The Witcher Showrunner Sees 'Limitless' Potential For Spin-Offs And Prequels
This post contains spoilers for Netflix's Witcherverse and Andrzej Sapkowski's "The Witcher" novel series.
Andrzej Sapkowski's novel series "The Witcher" has spawned a string of stellar adaptations. We have three video games that expand greatly on Sapkowski's novel, with "The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt" emerging as unparalleled, along with an entire comic book series based on the games which leaned heavily on wholly original stories within the universe. When Lauren Schmidt Hissrich and Declan de Barra took it upon themselves to adapt a television series based on the novels, they took a hybridized approach. Although the meat of the storyline was taken directly from different plotlines in the novel series, fresh threads, and new character facets were introduced to create an interesting world with beasts and monster slayers.
Last year, Hissrich and de Barra released a prequel titled "The Witcher: Blood Origin," whose events take place 1,200 years prior to the ones in the mothership series. "Blood Origin" attempted to take an original route to force a connection between the first Witcher and Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), but failed to capture the essence of what makes the series so captivating. However, this is no cause for panic — the showrunners are hopeful that the franchise is ripe for potentially "limitless" prequels and spin-offs, given how rich and all-encompassing Sapkowski's source material is. While the much-anticipated season 3 will be Cavill's final as Geralt, his shoes will be filled by Liam Hemsworth from season 4 onwards, but it's too early to speculate what might transpire beyond that point.
One can also expect more branching storylines from Netflix's Witcherverse, as Hissrich and de Barra told Collider about their plans to adapt several novel installments, including "The Lady of the Lake," which incorporates mythology to bring events to a fitting conclusion.
The Witcherverse is set to expand
Season 3 of the mothership series is geared toward the appearance of the Wild Hunt, as season 2 ended with Geralt, Yennefer (Anya Chalotra), and Ciri (Freya Allen) stranded in the desolate realm of Aen Elle before they teleport back to Kaer Morhen. We see the Wraiths of Mörhogg, along with Eredin, king of the Wild Hunt, proclaiming his interest in the child with the Elder Blood. "Blood Origin" provides some context to Eredin prior to his turn, filling in a few gaps regarding his current status as King, but the upcoming season will most likely grant greater insight into his motivations, and how Ciri's fate is intimately tied to that of the world(s).
While these events are a combination of existing storylines and new interpretations, there is ample space for adapting strands that might not factor into "The Witcher" series. Hissrich talked about the lifespan of the primary series, along with that of possible prequels and spin-offs:
"To me, 'Lady of the Lake' is the perfect example of how these stories can continue flourishing and developing even beyond the main saga, which is where obviously 'Blood Origin' comes in. But I was asked a lot, are there going to be other sequels and prequels and spinoffs? I think, certainly Sapkowski's books are kind of limitless in a lot of ways. So I think what is really interesting is to look at the lifespan of the mothership and then also the lifespan of the different types of stories that we can tell. So I could keep going for a while."
Hissrich also clarified that she has a definite end point in mind for the main Netflix series, which prompts her to talk about "The Lady of the Lake," and its connection to Arthurian legends.
Two worlds collide
In Sapkowski's final novel in "The Witcher" series, Ciri finds herself transported to a strange realm, which spurs constant realm-hopping and the need to return to her own world. These adventures are relayed by several characters, including the mythical Lady of the Lake, who recounts Ciri's adventures along with that of Geralt, who's on his way to rescue Yennefer from Vilgefortz. "The Lady of the Lake" consists of several intertwining timelines and accounts, and in the end, we realize that Ciri is recounting parts of her story to Sir Galahad, who initially mistakes her for the Lady of the Lake. In the end, it is hinted that Ciri and Galahad are now lovers, as they walk away together, holding hands.
Hissrich touched upon her interest to expand this particular aspect, as it offers endless potential to tell thrilling stories where Arthurian legends and Witcherverse lore collide:
"The interesting thing, especially when you get toward the end of the books, is you go into Lady of the Lake, which is the last book that we will be covering in the main series. And at that point things kind of explode in the Sapkowski worlds and you end with Ciri suddenly talking to Galahad and you're like, wait, now we're with Arthurian Knights."
This is not the only source material that is ripe for potential spin-offs, however. There are other "Witcher" prequels that Sapkowski wrote, such as "The Road with No Return" which sheds more light on Geralt's family, and "Something Ends, Something Begins," which is a casual, non-canon take on Geralt and Yennefer's wedding, among others. Hopefully, we'll witness a compelling expansion of Sapkowski's thrilling, mysterious world sometime in the future.