The first season of “The Witcher” was released on Netflix in 2019 and the moody fantasy drama was an instant hit. Netflix, of course, worked quickly to get a second season off the ground.
And then the pandemic hit and everything stopped. “The Witcher” struggled through several stop-and-start production dates (not all caused by the pandemic; lead actor Henry Cavill was also injured on set), but eventually managed to wrap up every other week.
But was that fast enough to release “The Witcher” Season 2 in late 2021? According to co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos, who spoke about the first quarter financial results in an investor video, yes:
What happened in the first part of this year was that many of the projects that we had hoped to be released earlier were pushed due to the post-production delays and COVID. We think we will return to a much more stable condition in the second half of the year, especially in the fourth quarter, where we have the recurring seasons of some of our most popular shows like The Witcher, and You, and Cobra Kai.
So not only will we get a new season from Witcher towards the end of the year, but also new seasons from “You” and “Cobra Kai”! Netflix is spending a whopping $ 17 billion on content this year, and they have no plans to shrink a global pandemic in their style. The company is clearly determined to remain the best dog in the streaming wars.
What happens to Geralt, Ciri and Yennefer in “The Witcher” Season 2?
As for what actually happens in “The Witcher,” the second season will adapt the events of “Blood of Elves,” the third “Witcher” book written by Andrzej Sapkowski and the first created as a traditional novel; the first season was largely based on “The Last Wish” and “Sword of Destiny,” which are more like short story collections.
The first season ended when Geralt of Rivia and Princess Ciri (Freya Allan) met after the fall of Cintra, Ciri’s home. If the show follows the path set out by the books, Geralt will take her to Kaer Morhen, the witch fortress, and train her in the witch arts. As for the sorceress Yennefer (Anya Chalotra), her whereabouts remain unknown after she and her fellow wizards helped defeat the invading Nilfgaardian Empire in the Battle of Sodden.
I think we’ll be seeing new episodes around December; then the first season was dropped, and the team will take a while to edit and expand on this special effects-heavy show.