The Witcher spoilers follow.
The Witcher franchise really is a valley of plenty these days. Between the anime prequel, and the many, many spinoffs currently in production, the world created by Andrzej Sapkowski seems to grow bigger and bigger each day.
But of course, all eyes remain firmly fixed on Henry Cavill’s flagship show, and not just because Geralt is easy on the eyes. The good news then is that before season two even arrived, Netflix already confirmed that season three is officially on its way as well.
The announcement came as part of Netflix’s TUDUM event in September 2021, but now that some time has passed since then, there’s plenty more news to share on season three. So grab your loyal steed and all the coins you can carry, as we head back into the Continent and find out what’s coming next in The Witcher season three.
The Witcher season 3 release date: When will it air?
The Witcher season two arrived almost exactly two years after the first one, but that was primarily down to COVID-related delays, not to mention the injury that Henry Cavill sustained on set.
For now, TV productions seem to be working almost as quickly as they did prior to the pandemic, so taking into account any more potential delays, we would expect season three to arrive at the end of 2022, or perhaps early 2023. That’s definitely subject to change though.
While speaking to showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich in the last week of November, 2021, Digital Spy learned that the writers room is already working on scripts for season three.
“The writers room this season is incredible. I mean, we’ve always had incredible writers on the show. But I feel that this season specifically had… We had some new people come in, and it was really interesting how it changed the dynamic of the room, to have this sort of new blood: people who have watched the first season, who then had screened the second season, and came in with fresh, new ideas, who sort of challenged me on things that I hadn’t really thought about before.”
“What is interesting, though is that we finished the scripts, and only then do we start talking to the actors and the directors, and getting into the production constraints of actually turning these eight episodes into a full-length journey,” Lauren continued.
“It’s important to me that the actors, for instance, that they feel passionate about their journeys as well; that they understand their characters’ journeys. So those are conversations that will all start soon.”
The Witcher season 3 cast: Who’s in it?
Assuming that all goes to plan and none of our faves end up in a monster’s belly, we can likely expect the following stars to join Henry Cavill in season three (because without Geralt, there isn’t really a show, right?):
• Freya Allan as Cirilla AKA Ciri
• Anya Chalotra as Yennefer of Vengerberg
• Joey Batey as Jaskier
• Royce Pierreson as Istredd
• Anna Shaffer as Triss Merigold
• Kim Bodnia as Vesemir
If you’ve binged season two right to the very end, you’ll also know that Ciri’s father, Emhyr, comes back from the dead, so to speak. Actor Bart Edwards will play a major role as season three’s Big Bad if that ominous season two ending is anything to go by.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that season two expanded the cast in a big way, so that’s bound to continue with the next chapter as well. Maybe the show will even introduce some queer characters at last…
One of the most prominent LGBTQ+ characters from this franchise is Philippa Eilhart, and following her cameo in season two, expect to see a lot more from Cassie Clare in the role when season three arrives.
The Witcher season 3 plot: What will happen?
Following season two’s chaotic finale, the next run of episodes will focus primarily on Ciri’s destiny as a world destroyer, or hopefully a saviour if we ever want to see season four come to light. There are plenty of forces gathering to manipulate the princesses power for themselves, including her own (formerly deceased) father, but at least Ciri now has Geralt and Yennefer by her side.
Looking for more granular analysis on season two’s final episode? Check out our extremely comprehensive ending explained right here.
During The Witcher’s latest promo tour in November 2021, we asked Joey Batey what he hopes lies in store for Jaskier beyond season two.
“It’s a tricky one,” he conceded. “I trust Lauren’s [Hissrich] vision so implicitly. She is taking these texts that were written in the ’80s, updating them, and bringing in aspects of our lives now that people want to see on television. They don’t want to see dragons anymore. They want to see dragons, but also: how does xenophobia work in this continent? What’s it like with turmoil and war?
“She’s really, really wonderful at taking all these polemic things and showing them through a lens of fantasy. That’s what I’m looking forward to the most in season three, the continuation of that, and more exploration of the stuff that fans care about.”
When asked the same question, Freya Allan gave us a more specific answer:
“I just want to see [Ciri] become an insane fighter. That’s the main thing. I just can’t wait for the day she gets handed an actual silver sword that’s weighted and is not a little broomstick [laughs]. I can’t wait for that, and I’m pretty sure Ciri can’t wait for that day as well. So we’ll be excited together.”
And during a chat with Radio Times, Freya revealed that she’s already had a peek at the scripts for season three: “It’s very exciting. I think it’s going to be a great season.”
Things might not turn out great for everyone though. While appearing on a panel at the Lucca Comics & Games Festival in Italy, showrunner Lauren S Hissrich teased that season three will have “a lot of action, some death… some death!” Now is she referring to a major character’s demise or just some good old-fashioned monster slaying? Guess we’ll have to wait and see…
In more harrowing news, Hissrich explained to Polygon what the elves and their increased presence means for season three:
“Viewers will notice we concentrate a lot on the elven storyline in season two, which is not as prominent in [the main novel being adapted], Blood of Elves. And yet, I know that in season three, we’re introducing the Scoia’tael, this army of elves that’s fighting on behalf of Nilfgaard. And they don’t come off so great. It’s a pretty sort of harsh, dark storyline.
“So I want to make sure that we understood and humanized their part of the battle. Where are they coming from? What are they fighting for? Even if they lose their way along the way. what is sort of their backdrop? So we’re constantly looking at the Witcher as a whole.”
The Witcher season 3 trailer: When can I watch it?
Not even Yennefer herself could materialise a trailer where there is none, but we’ll drop new footage right here as soon as Netflix sends it out into the ether.
The Witcher season 2 is now streaming worldwide on Netflix.
Source: digitalspy.com