In the wake of CD Projekt Red’s critically acclaimed The Witcher 3 scooping up over 800 awards – several Game of the Year nods included – back in 2015, devotees of the hit video game franchise soon justifiably wondered where the series might head once the threequel’s DLC campaign had reached its end.
Two years later we have our answer, though the truth of the matter may shock those anticipating a follow-up announcement from series publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment. While there’s every chance of another virtual Witcher outing being announced at E3 next month, that’s not the medium where Geralt of Rivia will appear next.
In fact, we’re about to witness the rugged, war-wearied protagonist’s adventures anew, since Netflix have begun development on an English-language TV drama adapting the original Witcher novels upon which the storylines of Bandai Namco’s RPG titles were originally based.
Written by Polish novelist Andrzej Sapkowski, the books carry the overarching title The Witcher Saga, depicting the escapades of Geralt alongside other witchers journeying through quasi-medieval lands on mythical quests to rid them of supernatural monstrosities galore.
“I’m thrilled that Netflix will be doing an adaptation of my stories, staying true to the source material and the themes that I have spent over thirty years writing,” Sapkowski said of the streaming studio’s new adaptation. “I’m excited about our efforts together, as well as the team assembled to shepherd these characters to life.”
Indeed, the team in question has its fair share of expertise when it comes to spearheading accomplished big and small-screen productions, between executive producers Sean Daniel and Jason Brown’s work on the Mummy film franchise, and co-exec Tomek Baginski – who’s also set to direct an episode per season – having helmed the BAFTA-winning movie The Fallen Art.
They’re scarcely lacking in enthusiasm for the project either, with Daniel and Brown praising Sapkowski’s “original, funny and constantly surprising” characters, and Baginski – as well as co-producer Jarek Sawko – noting the “moral and intellectual depth” in the source material which attracted him to the show.
Will their passion translate to a AAA Netflix series capable of matching its esteemed inspiration, the beloved video game saga and the studio’s other hit shows like House of Cards, however? With no targeted airdate set as of yet, it’ll be some time before we know for sure.