The Witcher season 3 premiered earlier this year, and whether you loved it or hated it, it was an important moment for the series. Season 3 was the final time that actor Henry Cavill will don the white wig as Geralt of Rivia; when the show returns, it will be Liam Hemsworth slicing and dicing up monsters instead.
Cavill’s performance as Geralt was the most universally praised aspect of the series, so there’s a lot of curiosity about how The Witcher will handle the transition. But with both screenwriters and actors on strike in one of the largest labor movements in Hollywood history, it may be a while before we find out. Season 4 was originally slated to start filming later this year, but production has been delayed until 2024, provided the studios and labor unions are able to come to an agreement by then.
Work is beginning on The Witcher season 4
However, reliable Witcher scoop site Redanian Intelligence reports that things may not be at a total standstill for the production. Early preparations for season 4 are underway at Longcross Studios in Surrey, England.
According to RI, The Witcher isn’t yet in pre-production, which is when things really get moving ahead of filming. Instead, it’s in a sort of pre-pre-production, with work beginning in some of the other departments unrelated to the writing or acting. On a show like The Witcher, where there are tons of props and costumes and fantastical sets, there’s plenty to do. Hopefully this means that when season 4 does start filming sometime next year, it’s able to hit the ground running.
The Witcher season 4 will introduce some important new characters
Beyond the news that some of the production departments are getting to work prepping for season 4, there are also some interesting updates on the casting front. The Witcher is currently putting auditions on hold, but a few months back there were rumbles that they were looking to fill the roles of Zoltan Chivay and Regis, a dwarf and vampire respectively. These characters play important roles in Baptism of Fire, the novel by Andrzej Sapkowski which season 4 will adapt.
Both Zoltan and Regis are beloved characters who appear in both The Witcher books and video games. Netflix is reportedly looking for a big name actor in their 50s or 60s to play Regis. Considering how popular the character is, that’s no surprise.
RI also reports that Sharlto Copley has been cast as Leo Bonhart, one of the main antagonists of The Witcher Saga. Bonhart is expected to appear first in The Rats spinoff, which finished filming in July.
Between season 4, The Rats, and the animated spinoff Sirens of the Deep, there will be a lot of Witcher stuff to get excited about whenever the strikes resolve. Here’s hoping its sooner rather than later so we can all get back to the Continent.
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