Everything We Know About THE WITCHER Season 2

Toss a coin to your favorite Netflix executives because The Witcher is officially coming back for season two. Back in November 2019, more than a month before the series premiered, Netflix announced plans for a second season, set to air in 2021. Since then, the series—as well as most of the entertainment industry—halted production for several months due to COVID-19 concerns. So what does this mean for The Witcher, which was filming its second season when the shutdown occurred? Here’s everything we know about The Witcher season two.

New Look at Season Two

On June 18, 2021, we got a new, very quick glimpse, at what’s to come in The Witcher season two. Particularly what is set to befall Geralt of Rivia.

You’d need an eagle eye to parse through this and come out with any leads. But we’ll be working on that until season two drops.

Netflix

On October 5, 2020, Henry Cavill shared the first official images of Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher season two on Instagram. As expected, Geralt is just as broody (and dirty) as he was when we left him. While the photos give us yet another opportunity to gush over his luscious locks, the photo of Geralt wielding his trusty sword below gives us a fuller glimpse of the witcher’s new look. Not only is Geralt spotting a full set of nice, new armor, he’s also carrying some additional means of protection.

While it’s a little too dark to see clearly, it appears Geralt is carrying a few handy bottles of the elixirs that enhance his powers strapped to his thigh. Well, that or some handy new explosives.

Netflix

Cavill’s caption featured a quote from Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Time of Contempt, the second book in The Witcher series, which reads,

We may still be a ways away from seeing Geralt back on our Netflix screens but if this passage is any indication, we’re in for an exciting season two.

Netflix

Netflix also shared a look at Ciri’s new season two costume on October 6, 2020. She’s with Geralt (as far as we know) following the end of season one, and she’s learning to fight. We’re getting major Arya Stark vibes.

Following her fiery sacrifice in the season one finale, many wondered about Yennefer’s fate. Luckily, Netflix released new photos on October 6, 2020, revealing Yennefer is alive… but not necessarily safe.

The photos, which see Yennefer look more than a little worse for wear and in chains, indicate the trouble ahead. Who exactly has her captive? And will season two feature a glorious rescue mission?

On October 25, Empire released an exclusive image from the new season. In it we see Geralt brandishing his sword in the falling snow. He has a wound on his right eye and looks pretty mad about it.

Empire

Returning Cast

Katalin Vermes/Netflix

You can’t have The Witcher without Geralt of Rivia. Henry Cavill is, of course, reprising his role as the titular witcher. Joining him are the rest of the principal quartet: Anya Chalotra as sorceress Yennefer, Freya Allan as Princess Ciri, and Joey Batey as the beloved bard Jaskier.

Other members of the large ensemble cast include MyAnna Buring, Tom Canton, Lilly Cooper, Jeremy Crawford, Eamon Farren, Mahesh Jadu, Terence Maynard, Lars Mikkelson, Mimi Ndiweni, Royce Pierreson, Wilson Radjou-Pujalte, Anna Shaffer, and Therica Wilson Read.

What’s Season Two About?

Katalin Vermes/Netflix

In October 2020, Netflix released the official season two logline, focusing on Geralt’s efforts to protect Ciri. It reads:

In a behind the scenes clip posted to the Netflix Geeked Twitter page, showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich shared that season two premiere adapts her favorite of Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher short stories, “A Grain of Truth.” She revealed that they weren’t sure if, after season one, they could still weave the short stories into the show’s narrative, but turns out, bringing this particular story to the screen works out perfectly. The show will just bring Ciri into the mix, as she’s absent in the story. And, of course, “A Grain of Truth” is notable for featuring Nivellen, played by Game of Thrones star Kristofer Hivju.

Of launching season two with the story, Hissrich said, “It’s the perfect kickoff for season two because it’s about family. It’s about the secrets that we keep from each other. And it’s about the monsters that we are on the inside sometimes.”

In an early 2020 interview, Hissrich teased the introduction of more witchers. The season will take Geralt back to Kaer Morhen, a.k.a. the place witchers are trained, where we’ll meet his mentor and “brothers.” She told The Wrap that season two is about “getting Geralt back to his roots and sort of learning where he came from and what his story is and what his sense of family is.”

Netflix

One major change in season two is the single timeline, a shift from the multiple timelines used in season one. However, she confirmed the use of flashbacks, flash-fowards, and other “fun challenges with time.” Season two consists of eight episodes, with Stephen Surjik, Sarah O’Gorman, Ed Bazalgette, and Geeta Patel each directing two episodes. In an interview with winteriscoming.net, O’Gorman teased an “exciting” second season for Ciri, Yennifer, and Geralt. She said, “It has the mix of mythical monsters, with those big set pieces, but with the big emotional journeys. Which is what I find appealing.”

Who Are These New Witchers?

BBC America

After exclusively focusing on just a single witcher—apologies to Remus—in season one, season two will introduce a bevy of new witchers. Killing Eve star Kim Bodnia has signed on to play Vesemir, legendary witcher and father figure for Geralt.

Netflix described the character in a press release as,

Actors Paul Bullion and Yasen Atour will play a pair of witchers named Lambert and Coën.

Other New Characters

HBO

Game of Thrones alum Kristofer Hivju will play Nivellen, a character featured in Andrzej Sapkowski’s short story “A Grain of Truth.” Other new additions include The Danish Girl’s Aisha Fabienne Ross as Lydia, Basil Eidenbenz (Victoria) as Eskel, Agnes Bjorn as Vereena, and newcomer Mecia Simson will play Francesca. Thue Ersted Rasmussen, who was originally cast as Eskel, left the series due to scheduling because of COVID-19.

Unlike many characters previously featured in Andrzej Sapkowski’s books or the video games, Dolittle‘s Carmel Laniado’s Violet is a creation for the Netflix series. The character is described by Deadline as “a young girl whose playful and whimsical demeanour is a front for a smarter and more sadistic character.”

Netflix as announced another slew of exciting season two castings, which include Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh and Outlander and Preacher alum Graham McTavish.

Andoh will play Nenneke, a priestess from Melitele and longtime ally of Geralt’s. McTavish will play Redanian intelligence leader Dijkstra. The detective agency Codringher and Fenn is also making its debut during season two. Simon Callow, best known for Four Weddings and a Funeral and another Outlander alum, is the former, while Liz Carr, in a gender-swapped casting, is Fenn.

Chris Fulton will play Rience, who in the books, is a powerful mage on the hunt for Ciri, while Cassie Clare will play Redanian sorceress Phillippa Eilhart. Among the castings is a lone original character in Kevin Doyle’s Ba’lian.

Release Date

Netflix

Netflix announced The Witcher season two premiere date during WitcherCon: December 17, 2021.

Any News Beyond Season Two?

Going into the series, viewers knew they’d get at least two seasons of Henry Cavill battling monsters in a gorgeous silver-white wig. Netflix hasn’t said anything yet about season three, but Hissrich hasn’t thought ahead. In November 2019, she told Escapist that she’s mapped out seven seasons worth of storylines.

Featured Image: Netflix

Originally published on November 19, 2019, most recent update October 25, 2021.

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