The Witcher season 3: key info
– Releasing in two components in June and July 2023
– First teaser launched in late April
– All main characters set to return
– Plot based mostly on The Time of Contempt guide
– Blood Origin spin-off units up season 3 plot
– Will function never-before-seen monsters and story threads
– Season 4 greenlit
– Henry Cavill not returning after season 3
Lastly, after months of teases, The Witcher season 3‘s official launch date has been revealed. Or, ought to we are saying, two launch dates.
Wait, what? Yep, the following installment within the Netflix fantasy collection is coming in two components, with every quantity arriving in June and July, respectively. You may must learn on to search out out the precise dates of when these two volumes of The Witcher‘s subsequent season will land on the world’s finest streaming service, although. We’re not going to surrender that info too simply.
There’s lots extra apart from these launch dates to learn in our information on The Witcher‘s third season, too. Beneath, we have rounded up every part price realizing forward probably the greatest Netflix reveals’ return, together with its first teaser, forged particulars, story beats, the present’s future, and extra.
Main spoilers observe for The Witcher season 2 and The Witcher: Blood Origin. Potential spoilers for The Witcher season 3 and Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels are additionally mentioned.
The Witcher season 3 launch date
The Witcher season 3’s launch date has lastly been revealed – and it is coming in two components. Season 3 quantity 1 will launch on June 29, and it will comprise the primary 5 episodes on this entry. Season 3 quantity 2 will debut on Netflix a month afterward July 27, with the ultimate three episodes making up this installment.
Household’s price preventing for. #thewitcher pic.twitter.com/mt78SmvrN6April 25, 2023
Funnily sufficient, showrunner Lauren Hissrich beforehand advised Collider (opens in new tab) that Netflix “would not rule” splitting the third season into two components. Clearly, then, this plan was at all times on the playing cards.
The Witcher‘s third season follows within the footsteps of different vastly widespread reveals, resembling Stranger Issues and You, in seeing their most up-to-date seasons break up into two volumes. Anticipate The Witcher season 3 episode 5, then, to finish on a cliffhanger forward of quantity 2’s arrival.
The Witcher season 3 trailer
The Witcher season 3’s first teaser debuted on-line alongside the launch date bulletins on April 25.
There’s not an excessive amount of we will glean from this 60-second trailer. Nevertheless, contemplating the present’s third season will give attention to the second guide in Sapkowski’s guide collection – The Time of Contempt – we all know that Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri will face their hardest and most perilous exams but. We dig into what this teaser might be exhibiting in our plot part, however be warned: spoilers are mentioned, so proceed with warning.
The Witcher season 3 forged
This is The Witcher season 3’s confirmed forged thus far:
- Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia
- Anya Chalotra as Yennefer of Vengerberg
- Freya Allen as Princess Cirilla of Cintra
- Joey Batey as Jaskier
- Myanna Buring as Tissaia de Vries
- Eamon Farren as Cahir
- Mimî M. Khayisa as Fringilla Vigo
- Royce Pierreson as Istredd
- Anna Shaffer as Triss Merigold
- Mecia Simson as Francesca Findabair
- Tom Canton as Filavandrel
- Mahesh Jadu as Vilgefortz
- Graham McTavish as Sigismund Dijkstra
- Cassie Clare as Philippa Einhart
- Hugh Skinner as Prince Radovid
- Wilson Mbomio as Dara
- Lars Mikkelsen as Stregobor
- Terence Maynard as Artorius Vigo
- Simon Callow as Codringher
- Liz Carr as Fenn
- Therica Wilson-Learn as Sabrina
- Safiyya Ingar as Keira
- Rochelle Rose as Margarita
- Michalina Olszanska as Marti
- Robbie Amell as Gallatin
- Jeremy Crawford as Yarpen
- Bart Edwards as Duny/Emperor Emhyr, aka The White Flame of Nilfgaard
- Aisha Fabienne Ross as Lydia
- Christelle Elwin as Mistle
- Meng’er Zhang as Milva
- Sam Woolf as Rience
Lots of the above have featured closely within the present, however those that haven’t ought to see their roles expanded.
Emperor Emhyr is without doubt one of the latter. The season 2 finale revealed Duny – the knight Geralt saved in season 1 and who can also be Ciri’s father – just isn’t solely nonetheless alive, however he’s the chief (aka The White Flame) of Nilfgaard’s forces. And he needs to be reunited with Ciri, so he can use her talents for nefarious means.
Philippa Einhart featured fleetingly in season 2 however, based mostly on what we all know of her guide counterpart, she has a much bigger position to play. That extends to Sigismund Dijkstra, too, with the dominion of Redania turning into extra outstanding because the plot within the books unfolds.
We would count on King Vizimir of Redania (Ed Birch), Lydia van Bredevoort (Aisha Fabienne Ross), Nenneke (Adjoa Andoh), Gage (Kaine Zajaz), and Eredin (Sam Hazeldine) to return as properly, however Netflix hasn’t confirmed their involvement but.
In the meantime, 4 new actors have been formally added to the roster in April 2022, inclduing Shang-Chi‘s Meng’er Zhang and Add‘s Robbie Amell. Learn extra about them in our Witcher season 3 forged replace explainer.
Potential season 3 forged spoilers observe.
THE WITCHER Season 3 forged is getting even larger:welcome ROBBIE AMELL (Add), MENG’ER ZHANG (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), HUGH SKINNER (Fleabag) and CHRISTELLE ELWIN (Bloods) to the Continent! pic.twitter.com/VOIAtnivljApril 14, 2022
Witcher fansite Redanian Intelligence has claimed 10 different actors – two in one article (opens in new tab), six in another (opens in new tab), and two more (opens in new tab) in separate news stories (opens in new tab) – have been forged. Netflix hasn’t confirmed these hires, however we have listed them beneath as their characters might curiosity diehard followers:
- Stuart Thompson as Fabio Sachs
- Jim Sturgeon as Applegatt, a royal messenger of King Demavend of Aedirn
- Ryan Hayes as Artaud Terranova, a mage who participates within the Thanedd Coup
- Josh Weller as Valdo Marx, a bard rival of Joey Batey’s Jaskier
- Kate Winter as Putney
- Martyn Ellis as Barker
- Michalina Olszanska as TBC
- Sean Cernow as TBC
- Harvey Quinn as TBC
- Poppy Almond as TBC
One other Redanian Intelligence (opens in new tab) leak claims The Rings of Energy season 1’s Fabian McCallum will play Kayleigh, a member of the teenage misfit gang referred to as The Rats. Redanian Intelligence (opens in new tab) additionally suggests Hiftu Quasem (Killing Eve) has joined the forged as iconic character Falka.
Two actors not returning are Blair Kincaid and Chris Fulton, who performed Crach an Craite in season 1 and Rience in season 2. Redanian Intelligence (opens in new tab) says Fulton has been changed by Sam Woolf (The Crown, People). Vikings Valhalla star Johannes Haukur Johannesson has reportedly been forged as Crach for season 3 (through Redanian Intelligence (opens in new tab)).
Elsewhere, two Blood Origin actors – Minnie Driver and Samuel Blenkin – might seem in the primary present. Driver’s Seanchai is a shape-shifting time traveler, so she would possibly present up. In the meantime, Blenkin’s Avallac’h was revealed as the person Ciri spots in that doorway within the first season. Avallac’h seems within the ultimate two books however, given Netflix’s live-action adaptation has performed unfastened and quick with the novels earlier than, he might be shoehorned into The Witcher season 3.
In accordance with Redanian Intelligence, a new villain known as The Professor (opens in new tab). The identical web site has since suggested Sunny Patel (opens in new tab) (Vox Machinae) will play this character. Lastly, Redanian Intelligence (opens in new tab) additionally claims that Safiyya Ingar (Summer season of Rockets, Religion) has been forged in an undisclosed position.
The Witcher season 3 plot
Main spoilers observe for The Witcher TV collection and the novels.
This is the official plot synopsis for The Witcher season 3, courtesy of Netflix: “As monarchs, mages, and beasts of the Continent compete to seize her, Geralt takes Ciri into hiding, decided to guard his newly-reunited household towards those that threaten to destroy it.
“Entrusted with Ciri’s magical coaching, Yennefer leads them to the protected fortress of Aretuza, the place they hope to uncover extra concerning the lady’s untapped powers; as a substitute, they uncover they’ve landed in a battlefield of political corruption, darkish magic, and treachery. They need to battle again, put every part on the road – or threat shedding one another without end.”
“Now, for the primary time, I perceive actual worry.”Put together your potions, you may want them. Watch the brand new teaser for @witchernetflix Season 3 right here:https://t.co/7MWWTaMXWVApril 25, 2023
Elaborating on what we will count on from the third season, Hissrich just lately advised Netflix Tudum (opens in new tab): “As viewers know, over time their relationship has been equal components elation and heartbreak, coming collectively and being ripped aside, dreaming of a future and accepting that it’s by no means that straightforward. This season is not any totally different. Our household needs nothing greater than to lastly be collectively. Will that occur? Sure. Will it final? Keep tuned.
“For any followers who’re aware of The Time of Contempt novel, there’s an epic occasion that explodes the Continent as we all know it – the lead-up to which supplied an ideal cliff-hanger for us. We couldn’t have deliberate it higher.”
What does that imply? In December 2021, Hissrich texclusively advised TechRadar season 3 can be based mostly on the second most important novel – i.e. The Time of Contempt so it’s best to count on some massive issues to occur this time round.
Chatting to Collider (opens in new tab), Hissrich additionally mentioned she wished to observe the books extra intently this season, and that it will incorporate plot factors from different novels within the collection. She additionally teased a “massive story from Blood of Elves”, the primary novel in The Witcher saga, can be a part of the overarching narrative. In the meantime, VFX supervisor Sébastien Francoeur and producer Graeme Marshall revealed (through ScreenRant (opens in new tab)) that season 3 will embody issues that no person has ” learn or seen earlier than in Witcher lore”. It sounds, then, that the present’s subsequent installment will nonetheless deviate from its supply materials occasionally.
In the meantime, regardless of being teased within the first-look trailer, The Wild Hunt will not function closely. “Everyone knows that, finally, Geralt goes to study a bit bit extra concerning the Wild Hunt, as will Ciri, however proper now it stays this ever-looming risk to her,” Hissrich defined to Entertainment Weekly (opens in new tab) (EW). “One of many issues that I like within the books that Sapkowski did fantastically is he teases the Wild Hunt for thus lengthy. They pop up, then they go away for some time. So we’re positively sticking to that college.”
Potential plot spoilers observe any further.
Rather a lot has occurred in 1200 years. This is the place The Witcher: Blood Origin sits within the wider timeline… pic.twitter.com/Voz7gHd1FtDecember 11, 2022
There are solely two main Blood of Elves book-based storylines not included in season 2. The primary considerations the Scoia’tael, a gaggle of non-human guerillas who battle for Nilfgaard and assault Geralt, Ciri, Triss, and Yarpen Zigrin’s dwarven contingent. Talking solely to TechRadar, Hissrich confirmed the Scoia’tael will seem of season 3.
The second is much extra necessary. It pertains to Geralt telling Ciri concerning the roses of Aelirenn, an elf who led the final band of their kin towards an invading human military. Aelirenn’s forces have been massacred by their foes and, on condition that solely younger elves can produce offspring, the demise of Aelirenn’s forces inadvertently led to the elves’ gradual march in the direction of extinction. Anticipate this to tie again into occasions regarding Francesca and her murdered elven child in season 2.
Primarily based on The Time of Contempt novel, then, what can we count on from The Witcher season 3?
Redanian Intelligence (opens in new tab) says the thrilling battle between Geralt and Vilgefortz has been included, which seems to be teased within the trailer when Geralt says “For the primary time, I perceive actual worry”. This voiceover might be a misdirect, nonetheless, and will relate to Geralt feeling scared about not with the ability to shield surrogate daughter Ciri from the Continent’s varied factions.
The identical web site claims Ciri can be concerned in two different moments pulled straight from the books, too – the first involving Wyverns (opens in new tab), which could see her rescue Fabio Sachs, whereas the second sees her lost in the Korath Desert (opens in new tab). Very long time followers will know all concerning the significance of this latter sequence.
Redanian Intelligence additionally suggests we’ll see two other major events (opens in new tab) play out – a sublime ball attended by quite a few mages (and Geralt), and the Thanedd Coup, which sees mages loyal to Nilfgaard and the North conflict in a bloody battle that prices many lives. This ties into the Geralt and Vilgefortz battle we talked about above.
Away from the motion, Jaskier might change into as widespread with the women (and guys) as Geralt is. Actor Joey Batey advised Total Film (opens in new tab): “Jaskier will get a bit little bit of a love curiosity – perhaps multiple”. That is if he manages to evade Dijkstra and Philippa, anyway, with the pair calling in a return favor from Jaskier – season 2 revealed they have been funding his scheme to assist oppressed elves escape the Northerm Realms – in season 3. That is why Philippa has him at knife level (or, fairly, fingernail level) within the teaser.
The Witcher season 3: future seasons and spin-offs
Netflix renewed The Witcher for a fourth season in October 2022. Nevertheless, Redanian Intelligence says writing has begun on seasons 4 and 5 (opens in new tab), so we might get two extra seasons. Beforehand, Hissrich advised Collider (opens in new tab) she’s mapped out a seven-season arc, however that is dependent upon whether or not individuals proceed watching.
That’ll be far more tough with out Henry Cavill. The Witcher season 3 can be his ultimate time on the present, with Netflix revealing Liam Hemsworth will take over as Geralt from seaosn 4 onwards. No cause has been given about Cavill’s departure, however Redanian Intelligence (opens in new tab) suggests Cavill did not agree with the present’s artistic selections.
Chatting with TechRadar, Hissrich mentioned she “totally understands” followers’ frustrations over Cavill leaving. Elaborating to EW (opens in new tab), Hissrich mentioned Cavill’s Geralt will get a “heroic sendoff”, earlier than confirming to NME (opens in new tab) that she’ll discuss extra concerning the scenario post-season 3.
From monsters to magic, here is #TheWitcher Season 2 in numbers. Carry on Season 3… pic.twitter.com/M51AfUBMKjJune 21, 2022
Spin-off clever, The Witcher: Blood Origin prequel collection coated the story of the primary Witcher’s creation and at last launched audiences to key character Avallac’h. Blood Origin additionally adopted occasions main as much as and through the Conjunction of the Spheres, the cataclysm that leads to the collision of a number of universes and their human, elven, and monstrous races. Minnie Driver, who performed the time-traveling Seanchai in Blood Origin, needs her character to cross over into the primary collection and hang around with Geralt.
Different spin-offs at the moment in improvement embody a family-friendly animated collection and a second anime film. Redanian Intelligence (opens in new tab) additionally claims a a spin-off involving different Witchers might be within the works, whereas one other of the website’s (opens in new tab) articles suggests a spin-off of The Rats, who will make their live-action debut in season 3m will begin filming in late 2023.
For extra Witcher-based content material, try these 5 bloody fantasy reveals whereas we await its third season. Alternatively, learn the way to learn The Witcher books so as.