Netflix’s Witcher Universe Keeps Shrinking

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In recent years, it seemed like Netflix couldn’t produce enough “Witcher” content to satisfy demand. The arrival of the animated prequel “Nightmare of the Wolf,” released before the second season, felt like a tasty morsel meant to satiate the 76 million viewers who had binged the first season and were eagerly waiting for season two. Showrunner Lauren Hissrich outlined an extensive seven-season plan with potential spinoffs, while star Henry Cavill expressed his intention to see Geralt’s story through to the end. It appeared at that time that “The Witcher” was planning to extend its universe in various directions as long as audiences continued to stream.

Looking back, it appears that Netflix’s growth in the Witcher universe may not reach the same heights as before. According to one assessment, The Witcher has lost almost half of its original viewers, and Lauren Hissrich’s initial seven-season plan has been reduced to five. The spinoffs haven’t had great success either. An animated series for children based on The Witcher seems to have vanished without a trace. The live-action prequel, The Witcher: Blood Origin, didn’t make much of an impact despite featuring Michelle Yeoh during her Oscar run with Everything Everywhere All at Once. Another potential spinoff, hinted at in The Witcher’s season finale and apparently partially produced, is currently uncertain. And the most significant hurdle remains, as Liam Hemsworth steps into the role of Geralt from Henry Cavill, who left The Witcher for its final two seasons under circumstances that are still unclear.

Is it possible for any franchise to endure such turmoil? The newly released animated film, titled “Sirens of the Deep,” appears to be an endeavor aimed at rekindling the interest of former fans of “The Witcher.” It’s a cinematic interpretation of “A Little Sacrifice,” a popular short story from Andrzej Sapkowski’s collection “Sword of Destiny.” The film follows a classic “Witcher” formula: it revisits a cherished fairytale – in this instance, Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” – and incorporates Geralt to slay some monstrous creatures and utter his signature “hrm” a few times. Moreover, it aligns well with “The Witcher“‘s first and most successful season, concluding with a finale that seamlessly transitions into the happenings of “Rare Species.

The primary focus here is on the actor chosen to portray Geralt in this new version of The Witcher: Doug Cockle, whose gravelly voice as Geralt throughout the video-game adaptations, including the highly acclaimed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, has earned him a dedicated fanbase. Even Henry Cavill, who played Geralt in the Netflix series, admitted that he was influenced by Cockle’s performance. It’s interesting to hear Cockle voice Geralt once more, although it can be a bit disconcerting to hear him alongside Joey Bate and Anya Chalotra, who portray Jaskier and Yennefer in the Netflix series, as opposed to John Schwab and Denise Gough, who voice these characters in the video game. This serves as a reminder that the Netflix’s The Witcher, which generally follows the storyline of the books instead of the prequel video-game trilogy, finds itself in an awkward position between the past and the future; with Henry Cavill no longer involved and Liam Hemsworth yet to make his debut, Sirens of the Deep had limited options other than blending the earlier video game with the TV side characters who are still present.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I must say that “Sirens of the Deep” delivers on its promises and stands out as the most self-assured and entertaining Witcher tale on Netflix in quite some time. Accompanied by Geralt and Dandelion, we embark on a voyage to Dandelion’s hometown, Bremervoord, where tensions run high between a human kingdom and an underwater merfolk realm. The unpredictable romantic entanglement between a human princess and a mermaid princess promises to intensify the already chilly atmosphere. Heads roll as men and monsters meet their demise; Geralt finds himself kindling a fresh flame, while a wicked sea witch croons a mischievous rendition of “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” It’s an engaging story that serves as a testament to The Witcher’s knack for crafting captivating standalone monster hunts. However, as a self-contained tale steeped in the narrative’s history, it doesn’t pave a new path for Netflix’s franchise to follow.

The issues with “The Witcher” at present extend beyond Henry Cavill’s departure. Actress Anya Chalotra, who portrays Yennefer, has found herself in the difficult position of justifying plot changes that have sparked discontent among a significant segment of the “Witcher” fanbase. Freya Allen, who plays Ciri, admitted last year, while gearing up to film two more seasons, that she was mentally fatigued with the series.

As a passionate fan of The Witcher, I can’t help but reflect on the enigma surrounding one of its most intriguing unproduced spinoffs – codenamed Riff Raff. Penned by the masterful mind behind The Witcher series, Haily Hall, this project was partially filmed, yet mysteriously never made it to an official announcement. Initially conceived for up to eight episodes, Riff Raff was set to be a thrilling prequel, focusing on a band of young thieves known as The Rats, who were introduced in the finale of season three as Ciri’s new allies.

In a style reminiscent of Ocean’s Eleven, these cunning rogues were planning an elaborate heist within the universe of The Witcher. Unfortunately, according to trusted sources like Redanian Intelligence, the project vanished due to a straightforward yet significant reason: Netflix executives weren’t enthused by the dailies. Last year, rumors circulated that Netflix intends to repurpose the filmed footage by releasing it as The Rats: A Witcher Tale – another standalone story in the expansive Witcher saga with an unclear trajectory.

As a diehard fan, I can’t help but draw parallels between the current situation and the fate of “The Witcher: Blood Origin,” another prequel miniseries that premiered on Netflix during the Christmas season, much like the first season of “The Witcher.” Unfortunately, it seems history may be repeating itself as this series, initially planned for six episodes, was significantly cut down to four. Additional reshoots were carried out, with Minnie Driver joining the cast as Seanchai, a shapeshifter whose extensive narrative explanations filled in the noticeable gaps in the storyline. Since the finale of “The Witcher: Blood Origin,” there’s been an eerie silence regarding Seanchai, and I can’t shake off the feeling that we won’t be hearing much more about her.

As a dedicated film enthusiast, I must admit there’s a silver lining to the shelving of those incomplete spinoffs for The Witcher, setting the stage for a fresh start. Since these prequels are primarily focused on expanding the franchise’s historical depth and mythology rather than advancing the narrative beyond where Sapkowski’s books left off, as the games did, it presents an opportunity to redefine its trajectory. Regardless of the details surrounding Henry Cavill’s exit, it’s evident that there were significant creative differences between his interpretation and Hissrich’s vision. With Liam Hemsworth stepping into the silver wig and swords, and Laurence Fishburne joining as beloved character Regis, The Witcher is poised for a do-over on its debut. Based on what we’ve heard, it seems they aim to have some enjoyable self-awareness about the switch in actors portraying Geralt, providing an entertaining wink to the audience.

It’s evident that whatever Netflix decides to do next with The Witcher franchise, there are numerous stories yet to be told. Last year, Polish game developer CD Projekt Red unveiled a tantalizing teaser for The Witcher 4. Additionally, the latest novel by Andrzej Sapkowski, a prequel centered around Geralt’s teenage years, was released in Poland last December and will soon be available in English. Furthermore, a series of engaging comic books, such as one that depicts Geralt as a ronin in a realm populated by creatures from Japanese folklore, demonstrate the potential for further exploration within The Witcher universe’s core elements.

In the current scenario, what does this mean for Netflix and their Witcher series? If there’s one character keeping the Witcher universe cohesive at present, it’s not Geralt, Yennefer, or even Ciri. Instead, it appears to be Jaskier, whose popular song “Toss a Coin to Your Witcher” has had a significant impact on the Netflix show within the larger Witcher lore. The upcoming series The Witcher: Blood Origin features expanded scenes for Jaskier, and Sirens of the Deep delves into his challenging childhood origins. Although the Witcher series has been leaning heavily towards the storyline of Ciri’s lineage and the impending doomsday prophecy, many viewers found it most engaging when it presented as a collection of semi-standalone monster hunts. It’s possible that Jaskier may have a few more of those tales up his sleeve. As fans who have kept up with The Witcher know, he never fails to tell a good story.

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2025-02-11 21:57