The Witcher is coming to streaming platform Netflix as an eight-episode TV drama in either 2019 or 2020, starring Henry Cavill as Geralt. The series is based on the Polish novel series by Andrzej Sapkowski, much like the CD Projekt Red RPG series that we're so keen on here at PC Gamer. With a showrunner in place—Daredevil and The Defenders writer Lauren Schmidt Hissrich—we're already learning loads about the series via her Twitter feed, including character descriptions. We also know that writing on the series is nearing completion. As of August 2018, the final episode of the season is being written.
If you were curious about the show's credibility, too, Sapkowski is working on the Netflix series as a creative consultant.
“I’m thrilled that Netflix will be doing an adaptation of my stories, staying true to the source material and the themes that I have spent over thirty years writing,” he said in a press release. “I’m excited about our efforts together, as well as the team assembled to shepherd these characters to life.”
While we'll endeavour to keep spoilers to a minimum, please proceed with caution if you'd rather not know about the characters or story beats ahead of time. You'll find various pieces pointing in the series' direction here.
Does The Witcher on Netflix have a release date yet?
Though it was announced a year ago now, we're still some way away from seeing The Witcher's premiere, unfortunately.
Though the precise release date has yet to be confirmed, it's widely expected to release some time next year, but showrunner Hissrich herself has even suggested 2020 as a potential window.
In terms of where the show is at now, the writers are on at least the fourth episode already, as of the end of July 2018.
While this isn't the first time the Witcher series has come to screens—The Hexer, a 13-episode Polish language series adaptation of the series, was broadcast way back in 2002, and a poorly-received Polish movie preceded it in 2001—this is the first time we'll have seen an on-screen adaptation outside of Poland.
It's been confirmed that the inaugural Netflix series will feature eight episodes.
"I know, I know, it may not seem like enough for you, but creatively, it's the right call," Hissrich tweeted last month. "The episodes can be tight, action-packed, rich in character and story, without lagging in the middle of the season. Sounds good to me, sound good to you?"
As of August 2018, the season finale is being written, which suggests we're getting closer to learning juicy details.
What is the story of The Witcher Netflix series?
If you head on over to The Witcher on Netflix right now, there's already a placeholder description to tempt you into pre-adding the show to your list.
While the Netflix blurb—"The witcher, Geralt, a mutated monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts"—doesn't give away much, an official synopsis revealed by executive producers Sean Daniel and Jason Brown tells us a little more, indicating that the show follows an unconventional family that "comes together to fight for truth in a dangerous world."
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Tomek Baginski and Jarek Sawko of Polish visual effects studio Platige Image said in a statement: "There is a moral and intellectual depth in these books which goes beyond genre. It is a story about today and today’s challenges, hidden under a fantasy cover. It is a story about us, about the monster and hero inside of all our hearts."
On Twitter, Hissrich has introduced us to other writers, like Declan de Barra (The Originals), Jenny Klein (Jessica Jones) and Sneha Koorse (Daredevil) to name but three, joining the crew, and detailed what happened the first time the team gathered in the writers' room.
"We start talking. And talk and talk and talk. We write the things we say on dry erase boards. [...]
We break down characters first: who they are, what they want, who they'll do it with. Organically, those emotional moments collide with plot. Note: some writers are better at plot machinations. Some are better at emotional arcs. Some do action. Some do sex. It takes all types."
So that's the sex scenes confirmed, then… although it remains to be seen if we'll get to see some sexy times on a unicorn.
Which characters will appear in The Witcher on Netflix?
So far, we know that Yennefer, Ciri, Roach, and Triss will be joining Geralt, along with Regis the vampire and Emhyr var Emreis.
Dandelion will also be making an appearance, although for the show he'll be referred to as Jaskier, his original name from the novel series.
“The characters are original, funny and constantly surprising and we can’t wait to bring them to life at Netflix," said producers Tomek Baginski and Jarek Sawko when the series was announced.
Hissrich has even taken to describing each character via a series of recent tweets. Brace yourselves—there's a lot of detail here, and many hyphens for the more descriptive sections of Hissrich's tweets.
- Geralt is described as stoic, circumspect, balanced and fierce, and, in Hissrich's words: "soft-and-squishy-in-a-tiny-place-in-his-heart-that-he'll-never-reveal-until-maybe-the-end-and-even-then-it-will-just-be-a-hint."
- Yennefer, meanwhile, is fiery, proud, shrewd and contradictory, plus: "seeking-to-fill-a-family-sized-hole-in-her-heart-even-though-she-resents-it-and-swears-she's-just-fine-on-her-own-but-she-is-not-and-we-love-her-for-being-both-independent-and-vulnerable."
- Ciri is described as resilient, relentless, brazen and growing, and, according to Hissrich: "she's-going-to-change-the-world-and-what-the-hell-is-she-supposed-to-do-except-be-scared-and-be-bold-and-learn-and-adapt-and-find-a-family-who-can-walk-by-her-side-no-matter-what-and-maybe-just-maybe-teach-her-the-meaning-of-love."
- Roach is apparently "ladylike; faithful; extrasensory; steady". Hissrich adds this, too, as part of the same Twitter thread: "Really-annoyed-with-this-game-because-we-can’t-pretend-all-Roaches-are-the-same-so-she’d-prefer-some-singularity-and-individual-recognition-instead-of-all-being-lumped-together-by-blatantly-horsist-people."
- Jakier is extravagant, caddish, loose-lipped and loya. Plus: "Hides-behind-the-exterior-of-an-idiot-when-in-actuality-he-is-the-keeper-of-Geralt’s-realities-(even-if-he-exaggerates-his-own-heroics)-AND-the-truths-of-the-world-which-means-he’s-far-more-important-than-we-realize…"
- Triss Merigold is "Spunky; Idealistic; Insecure; Conflicted; Young-and-naive-and-lacking-the-confidence-of-sorceresses-which-means-she-is-ripe-for-manipulation-but-when-she-finally-transcends-the-crap-she-has-a-chance-to-be-loved-as-herself-and-not-as-'the-third-wheel-with-Yen'".
- Cahir is "Conflicted; Charismatic; Haunted; Pure of heart; Despite-being-young-he's-like-a-relic-of-a-simpler-time-when-knights-in-shining-armor-always-won-the-girl-but-now-in-the-face-of-harsh-reality-he-must-learn-what-it-means-to-actually-be-heroic-and-brave-for-others."
Phew, that was a lot of hyphens. Check out character descriptions for Regis, Vilgefortz, Ephyr, Milva, Leo Bonhart and Borch Three Jackdaws/Villentretenmerth deeper into Hissrich's Twitter thread, starting here. "This is a starting point, mostly because—how could characters ever be boiled down to five words (even with hyphens?)" Hissrich told fans on Twitter. "Also, the characters change and develop so much over the series that a summary can never be 100% accurate. Geralt starts off stoic. He doesn't end that way."
The Witcher Netflix series cast: Henry Cavill is Geralt
Henry Cavill said in August that he'd be interested in taking on the role of Geralt, but as it turns out he'd already been given the role: Netflix announced on September 4 that Cavill will portray the White Wolf in the series, after which showrunner Lauren Hissrich revealed that she'd had meetings with him about the taking the role four months earlier. "I've never forgotten the passion he brought. He IS Geralt. He always has been," she said. "I'm so thrilled to welcome Henry Cavill to the Witcher family."
Cavill might seem a little too much of a Boy Scout to play a grizzled, world-weary monster hunter, but a fan-made image he shared on Instagram looks closer to the mark than you might expect. Perhaps more importantly, he got an enthusiastic endorsement from Doug Cockle, the voice of Geralt in CD Projekt's Witcher RPG series, who said Cavill will "do a great job."
Other members of the cast haven't been announced, but we'll keep you posted.
Where is The Witcher Netflix series going to be filmed?
Eastern Europe, naturally.
"WE'LL BE SHOOTING IN EASTERN EUROPE. Yes!" tweeted Hissrich. "This show couldn't exist anyplace else. Period."
While the show follows the novels more closely than the accompanying game series, we know that CD Projekt Red's cinematic director, Tomas Baginski—who directed the opening cinematics in all three Witcher games—is penciled in to direct as least one episode, so it'll be interesting to see if the show will be influenced by the style and motifs of its accompanying game series.
We'll keep you updated on the show in the coming months.