The Witcher showrunner “sad” that multiple timelines didn’t go over well

Netflix’s The Witcher, based on ‎Andrzej Sapkowski’s fantasy series, has inspired a ton of discussion, with fans both singing its praises and decrying its shortcomings. For example, some viewers (read: me) liked the series overall but couldn’t get behind the way showrunner Lauren Hissrich and her team chose to mess with chronology, telling us the stories of three characters — Geralt of Rivia, Yennefer of Vengerberg and Princess Cirilla — all happening at very different points in time.

Speaking to IGN, Hissrich talked about how she and her team approached the timelines, their reception, and what’s next. “The timelines were done mostly so we could follow Geralt’s story at the same time we were following Yennefer’s and Ciri’s story,” she said. “What we’ve done by the end of Season 1 is bring everyone onto the same timeline, and their stories will start to intersect a lot more.

"I personally was sad that the timelines weren’t received as well as I hoped they would’ve been. I think they’re fun. But I think the audience lucked out a lot because, in Season 2, those were already gone anyway. So I do think that it’s going to be an easier season to follow. But I think more than that, the storytelling is a lot more focused."

Well, I can’t agree that the timelines were “fun,” but as long as they’re done away with going forward, all’s well that ends well.

Or rather, all’s well that continues well, since Hissrich has rather a lot of material to get through before getting to the end. Season 2 is on the way, although Hissrich doesn’t think we’ll be getting it until 2021. “The truth is, [The Witcher] is an enormous show and it takes a long time and we realized that in Season 1 we were smashing down a lot of the post-production process,” she said. “And we want to make sure that everyone on our team gets the time to do their job and do it to the best of their ability. So we’re making sure we have a lot of built-in cushion time for Season 2 so we don’t cram anything in at the last minute.”

While fun, the first season of The Witcher was a little rough around the edges — remember that janky-looking dragon? — so I’d be fun with them taking a little more time.

At the moment, Hissrich are her team ramping up production after writing the scripts, which she notes are “living breathing things” still subject to alternation. “Now is really the time that we do the fine-tuning, and we make sure that we’re telling the story the right way,” she said. And that will continue happening through July. It’s an ongoing, organic process.”

And when it’s complete, will we have any new names added to the cast? In the final episode, Geralt mentioned Vesemir, his mentor in the Witching ways. Noticing his performance as Old Hermit Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, the internet has gotten behind the idea of Mark Hamill playing the character:

Hissrich, naturally, has taken notice:

So is this happening? Hissrich, who is a “huge Star Wars fan,” sounds open, although nothing’s happened yet. “It was one of those first Witcher moments for me where I was like, ‘oh my God, is this even possible? That Mark Hamill knows what this is and would be interested in doing that?'”

"Mark has always been of interest to me and interest to the project. We have not contacted his agent yet because we’re not casting the role quite yet, but that being said, I am loving what’s happening on the internet. And I’m loving all of the fan reaction to it. Obviously, we’ve seen what a huge fanbase The Witcher has, and to add that to a Star Wars fanbase… it makes my mind explode a little bit."

I’d be down with that. The choice isn’t so outlandish that it would feel like ridiculous fan service, and Hamill is a legit actor. No idea if it’ll happen, though. I give fans between now and mid-summer to suggest alternative candidates.

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