The Witcher on Netflix: Everything you need to know

From Digital Spy

We've known since 2017 that Netflix was working on a new English language adaptation of The Witcher, based on the popular fantasy saga from Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski.

Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, who has written for the likes of The Defenders, Daredevil and Power, signed on as showrunner and executive producer in December 2017 and a Netflix event earlier this year teased yet more details about the adaptation.

And because we're kind to you, here's everything you need to know about The Witcher on Netflix in one handy place.

The Witcher Netflix release date: When will it arrive?

There hasn't been a confirmed release date yet.

Hissrich previously revealed on her Twitter – which is a feast of The Witcher information – that we could well be waiting until 2020 for it to arrive on Netflix.

"Who knows?! We're moving quickly ahead with everything – like, my head is spinning around Exorcist-style, except with enthusiasm, not evil possession – but one thing is certain: quality comes before speed. You'll get it as soon as humanly possible, and it'll be good," she promised.

But The Witcher was later confirmed to be hitting Netflix sometime in 2019 – we're guessing late in the year, which is still a pretty tight turnaround.

Production got underway in October 2018. But if late 2019's still too long for you to wait, you can always track down The Hexer, a 13-part Polish series based on The Witcher stories The Last Wish and The Sword of Destiny.

The writers include The Originals' Declan de Barra, Jessica Jones' Jenny Klein and Daredevil's Sneha Koora, while Sapkowski is on board as a creative consultant and Hissrich also revealed that there are "several Polish people on the creative team".

We also know that it will be shooting in Eastern Europe as it "couldn't exist anyplace else", according to Hissrich.

The Witcher Netflix cast: Who's in it?

With his days as the big-screen's Superman apparently behind him, Henry Cavill will be playing The Witcher's lead role of mutated monster hunter Geralt of Rivia.

When Cavill's casting was announced, Hissrich insisted that there'd never been any other choice for Geralt.

We got our first-look at Cavill in character in October 2018, as Netflix posted a costume and make-up test featuring the actor to announce start of production on the series.

Before the role of Ciri, bad-ass heiress to the throne of Cintra, was cast, news emerged that a BAME actress was being sought for the part. This development sparked a backlash amongst a certain sector of Witcher fandom, with Hissrich even taking a Twitter hiatus to escape the fallout.

Oh dear.

In the event, a white actress - Freya Allan - was cast as Ciri, though mixed race actress Anya Chalotra was cast as Yennefer.

Of the castings, Hissrich said: "One of the things I feel most strongly about is people being afraid that we're going to strip out the cultural context of The Witcher, to remove its Slavic roots, the very thing people in Poland are proud of.

"That couldn't be further from the truth. What I've always wanted to do is take these Slavic stories and give them a global audience."

Also cast are Jodhi May (Game of Thrones) as Queen Calanthe; Bjorn Hlynur Haraldsson (Fortitude) as her husband, the knight Eist; Adam Levy (Knightfall) as the druid Mousesack; MyAnna Buring as the head of the magical academy at Aretuza, Tissaia; Mimi Ndiweni and Therica Wilson-Read as novice sorcerers; and Millie Brady as the outcast Princess Renfri.

Further casting on The Witcher was confirmed when production commenced in October, with Eamon Farren (Twin Peaks) cast as Cahir, Joey Batey (Strike) as Jaskier, Lars Mikkelsen (House of Cards, Sherlock) as Stregobor, Royce Pierreson (Wanderlust, Line of Duty) as Istredd, Maciej Musiał (1983) as Sir Lazlo, Wilson Radjou-Pujalte (Dickensian) as Dara, and Anna Shaffer (Harry Potter) as Triss.

Additional cast for the series includes:Rebecca Benson as Marilka, Shane Attwooll as Nohorn, Luke Neal as Vyr, Matthew Neal as Nimir, Tobi Bamtefa as Danek, Sonny Serkis as Martin, Roderick Hill as Fletcher, Inge Beckmann as Aridea, Charlotte O'Leary as Tiffania, Natasha Culzac as Toruviel, Amit Shah as Torque and Tom Canton as Filavandrel.

*exhales*

Aside from these roles, we do at least have a hint of what other characters from Sapkowski's book series will feature on the show as Hissrich tweeted out a series of notes on The Witcher characters.

These included Roach, Regis and Emhyr and you can read all of them in this handy Twitter thread.

That's not confirmation that these characters will be featured in the first season, but we do know that the show will be based on the book series and not the video game adaptation.

"We all know there has to be creative distance between the games & the show. Both are adaptations; they are not themselves connected," Hissrich explained.

The Witcher Netflix episodes: How many can we expect?

Hissrich confirmed that we can expect eight episodes in the first season and outlined some solid reasons for the relatively brief number.

"I know, I know, it may not seem like enough for you, but creatively, it's the right call. 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?," she explained.

Sounds good to us.

Of the eight episodes, four will be directed by Game of Thrones' Alik Sakharov, two directed by Outlander's Charlotte Brändström and another two directed by Daredevil's Alex Garcia Lopez.

The Witcher Netflix plot: What's it about?

The Netflix synopsis makes it clear the series will be based on the books, describing it as "an epic tale of fate and family".

"Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts," the synopsis continues. "But when destiny hurtles him toward a powerful sorceress, and a young princess with a dangerous secret, the three must learn to navigate the increasingly volatile Continent together."

Netflix has already got a placeholder page for The Witcher – clearly they're as excited as us – which gives a brief outline of the show: "The witcher Geralt, a mutated monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts."

Not much additional information there, but executive producers Sean Daniel and Jason Brown have a bit more to tell you. "The Witcher stories follow an unconventional family that comes together to fight for truth in a dangerous world," they teased.

Script segments leaked online in August again had Witcher fandom up in arms, with some taking issue with the characters' "witty banter" and Geralt being described as "ridiculously attractive".

Hissrich, though, insisted that these were simply sides using for auditions, and that the scenes wouldn't feature in the finished product.

Other than that, you're going to have to wait, but as soon as we have more concrete plot information, we'll update this very page so keep it bookmarked.

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