The Witcher Add Ons
Magnhild Mongolo
The Witcher is a fantasy drama television series created by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich for Netflix. It is based on the book series[a] by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski. Set on a fictional, medieval-inspired landmass known as the Continent, The Witcher explores the legend of Geralt of Rivia, Yennefer of Vengerberg and Princess Ciri. It stars Henry Cavill, Anya Chalotra, and Freya Allan.
The first season, consisting of eight episodes, was released on Netflix on December 20, 2019. It was based on The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny, which are collections of short stories that precede the main The Witcher saga. The second season, also consisting of eight episodes and based on the novel Blood of Elves, was released on December 17, 2021. In September 2021, Netflix renewed the series for a third season, which also consists of eight episodes, released in two volumes on June 29 and July 27, 2023. This will be followed by a fourth season, with Liam Hemsworth taking over the role of Geralt of Rivia. In April 2024, the series was renewed for its fifth and final season.
The story begins with Geralt of Rivia, Crown Princess Cirilla of Cintra, and the quarter-elf sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg at different points in time, exploring formative events that shape their characters throughout the first season, before eventually merging into a single timeline.
Geralt and Ciri are linked by destiny since before she was born when he unknowingly demanded her as a reward for his services by invoking "the Law of Surprise". After the two finally meet, Geralt becomes the princess's protector and must help her and fight against her various pursuers to prevent her Elder Blood and powerful magic from being used for malevolent purposes and keep Ciri and their world safe.
Andrzej Sapkowski's The Witcher book series was initially scheduled to be adapted into a standalone Netflix film, but Kelly Luegenbiehl, Vice President of International Originals at Netflix, dissuaded the producers. She recalled asking them, "How can you take eight novels and just turn it into a film? There's so much material here. Through a number of conversations, the producers got really excited about the idea of using the source material for a longer-running series."[13] In May 2017, Netflix announced the start of production on an English-language drama TV series based on the books.[14][15]
In December 2017, it was reported that Lauren Schmidt Hissrich would serve as showrunner on the show.[16] In April 2018, Schmidt Hissrich revealed that the script for the pilot episode was finished and that the first season would be eight episodes long.[17] In 2017, it was reported that Andrzej Sapkowski would serve as a creative consultant on the show, but in January 2018, Sapkowski denied any direct involvement.[18] However, he met with Schmidt Hissrich in April 2018,[19][20] and in May 2018, she stated that Sapkowski was on the creative team of the project.[21] In August, Andrew Laws was revealed as production designer.[22] In December, Radio Times reported directors Alik Sakharov and Charlotte Brndstrm had joined the project.[23]
Netflix announced a second season on November 13, 2019,[24][25] under the working title "Mysterious Monsters",[26] with production set to begin in London in early 2020, for a planned release in 2021.[27] In April 2021, Netflix's co-chief executive officer and chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, confirmed that the second season was expected to premiere in Q4 2021.[28][29] In July 2021, it was announced that the second season would premiere on December 17, 2021.[30] On September 25, 2021, Netflix announced that the series had been renewed for a third season.[31] In April 2023, it was announced that the third season would be split into two volumes, to be released on June 29 and July 27, 2023, respectively.[32] In the midst of filming the fourth season, Netflix renewed the series for a fifth and final season in April 2024.[33]
The first season was told in a non-linear manner, spanning different time periods. Schmidt Hissrich said this was inspired by Christopher Nolan's 2017 film Dunkirk.[34] She pointed out that Yennefer's story covers around 70 years and Ciri's only about 2 weeks.[35] Schmidt Hissrich also said that Yennefer and Cirilla were given more prominence to allow the viewers to understand them better. By showing their backstories, along with Geralt's, "we get down to the soul of the story. It's the story of a broken family. It's a story of three people who are on their own in the world, really orphans all living in the margins of society who are determined to not need anyone, and yet of course they do."[36]
In September 2018, Netflix announced that Henry Cavill would play Geralt of Rivia.[39][40] He was selected from more than 200 actors;[41] Cavill actively campaigned for the role, being a long-time fan of the video game adaptations.[42] In October 2018, Freya Allan and Anya Chalotra were cast as Princess Cirilla and Yennefer of Vengerberg respectively, while Jodhi May, Bjrn Hlynur Haraldsson, Adam Levy, MyAnna Buring, Mimi Ndiweni, and Therica Wilson-Read also joined.[43] More casting was announced later that month, including Eamon Farren, Joey Batey, Lars Mikkelsen, Royce Pierreson, Maciej Musiał, Wilson Radjou-Pujalte, and Anna Shaffer.[44]
In February 2020, Netflix announced Kim Bodnia had been cast as Vesemir, an experienced witcher and a mentor to Geralt.[45] Other additions included Kristofer Hivju,[46] Yasen Atour, Agnes Born, Paul Bullion, Thue Ersted Rasmussen,[47] Aisha Fabienne Ross, and Mecia Simson.[45] In September 2020, it was announced that Basil Eidenbenz would replace Rasmussen in the role of Eskel.[48] In November 2020, Rebecca Hanssen was announced for the role of Queen Meve.[49]
In March 2021, Kevin Doyle was cast as Ba'Lian, an original character who does not appear in the novels. Cassie Clare, Adjoa Andoh, Liz Carr, Simon Callow, Graham McTavish, and Chris Fulton were cast as Philippa Eilhart, Nenneke, Fenn, Codringher, Dijkstra, and Rience, respectively.[50]
In April 2022, Robbie Amell, Meng'er Zhang, Hugh Skinner, and Christelle Elwin joined the cast in the third season with recurring roles.[51] In July 2022, Michalina Olszańska, Ryan Hayes, Kate Winter, Martyn Ellis, Harvey Quinn, and Poppy Almond were cast.[52]
In October 2022, Netflix announced that Liam Hemsworth would be replacing Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia from the start of Season 4.[53] In January 2024 it was announced that Laurence Fishburne was cast as Regis.[54]
Principal photography for the first season began on October 31, 2018, in Hungary.[44] Much of the series was filmed at Mafilm Studios near Budapest; the outdoor set included the exterior of wizard Stregobor's household. The hall in Cintra was constructed at Origo Studios on the outskirts of Budapest. Fort Monostor (Monostori Erőd) and the nearby forest was used for some exterior scenes in Cintra. The Battle of Marnadal was filmed in the hills of a village in Hungary, Cskberny. The village that was Yennefer's original home was filmed at the Skanzen Village Museum, an open-air site near Szentendre some 30 kilometres (20 mi) north of Budapest; this location was also used in scenes with Ciri in an area with a windmill. The production used the exteriors of Burg Kreuzenstein, a castle near Leobendorf, Austria, for the abandoned fictional castle Vizima, but the interiors were filmed at Origo Studios.[57]
In March 2019, production commenced on Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands, Spain. Some scenes were to be shot on the islands of La Palma and La Gomera, as well.[58] Scenes of the Sorcerers' Aretuza Academy (Tower of the Gull) were shot on Roque de Santo Domingo in Garafa, an islet, and enhanced with CGI. The interiors, however, used for the graduation ball were at the Kiscelli Museum in buda. The museum was a monastery in the 18th century. This location was also used for the conclave of the Northern Mages. The Barranco de Fataga area on Gran Canaria island was used for some scenes of arid landscapes. Scenes of Ciri traveling in the desert were filmed in the Natural Dune Reserve of Maspalomas on Gran Canaria. Most of episode six was filmed on La Palma island.[59]
Filming of the first season concluded in Ogrodzieniec Castle in Poland. The ruins of this medieval castle, dating from the 1300s, were the backdrop for scenes including the fictional Vilgefortz of Roggeveen and Triss Merigold. The ruins were also included when shooting the Battle of Sodden Hill in the final episode of Season 1.[59][60] Filming for the first season wrapped in May 2019.[61]
Filming for the second season began in London in early 2020 but was halted for two weeks in March due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic[62] and actor Kristofer Hivju's confirmation that he had tested positive for COVID-19.[63] Then, in May 2020, film and television productions that were filming in the UK were given permission to resume filming, including season two of The Witcher.[64] The show resumed preproduction in July and officially resumed filming on August 12, 2020,[65][66] with filming for the second season expected to extend into early 2021.[67] On November 7, 2020, production was halted again after a number of crew members had tested positive for COVID-19.[68] Production resumed two weeks later on November 24, 2020, and continued in December despite Cavill's on-set injury.[citation needed] Filming for the second season wrapped on April 2, 2021.[69]
Filming locations for the second season were all in the UK and included Cathedral Cave and Hodge Close Quarry in the Lake District,[70] Low Force Waterfall in the North Pennines,[71] and Bourne Wood in Farnham.[72]
Filming for the third season began on April 4, 2022,[73] and wrapped in September 2022.[74] Part of the season was filmed at the Krk island in Croatia, with the help of the Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC).[75] Some of the scenes were filmed at the Fusine Lakes in Tarvisio, Italy, and at Predjama Castle and Nanos, both located in Slovenia.[76]
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