Tatler gets the inside scoop from executive producer Lauren Schmidt Hissirch, Henry Cavill, Joey Batey, Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, and Kim Bodnia
In a grim, medieval world where humans often prove to be more wicked than beasts, non-human solitary monster-killer and titular Witcher Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) struggles to find his place. Season one of The Witcher focuses on the legend of Geralt and Princess Cirilla (Freya Allan), with whom he is linked by destiny, and the sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra). Their stories are told in short chapters spanning multiple generations before eventually merging into a single timeline.
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The first season ended after the battle for Sodden Hill against the invaders from Nilfgaard. Convinced Yennefer’s life was lost at the Battle of Sodden, Geralt of Rivia brings Princess Cirilla to the safest place he knows, his childhood home of Kaer Morhen. While the Continent’s kings, elves, humans and demons strive for supremacy outside its walls, he must protect the girl from something far more dangerous: the mysterious power she possesses inside.
The second season, consisting of eight episodes, is scheduled for release on Netflix on December 17, 2021. Ahead of its premiere, Tatler speaks to executive producer Lauren Schmidt Hissirch, Henry Cavill, Joey Batey, Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, and Kim Bodnia about what fans can expect from the exotic and fantastical world of The Witcher.
Lauren Schmidt Hissirch, executive producer
Other than the shift in the storytelling format (time-jump vs linear) in season two, what would you say are some of the other most striking differences between the seasons?
That’s a great question! First of all, that's probably the biggest difference. The entire goal of season one was to give all these characters their own stories before eventually getting them into the same time, same place, and the same universe. I do think that you will find this season easier to follow because stories are told in a forward motion and everyone is propelled forward. We worked really hard in season one to kind of set the chessboard with all of the pieces so I feel like in season two, we didn’t need to do all of that heavy lifting anymore and we can really just delve into the story and into the characters. So, I think that the other big difference for season two is that you get to go deeper with all the characters–have characters talking and getting to know each other better, and for the audience to know them better. Overall, the season feels more personal and more intimate.
How involved were the key actors in planning for or giving input on the screenplay for season two?
I always want the actors to be involved in the process. We first meet in the writers’ room, me and the other writers, and we spend about 20 weeks building the story and writing the scripts–but that’s just the beginning of the creative process because once we finish, then we invite the production crew in. Then there’s all sorts of time and budget constraints, or where we can shoot, or what sets we’re going to build. But then we also bring the directors and the actors in for their creative point of view. I have long conversations with Henry, Anya and Freya about their characters and the journey of their characters because they need to believe in them in the same way that I do. That's important to me.
This season was really interesting because we had all the scripts, we started shooting, and then we had to shut down for five months because of the Covid-19 pandemic. That had never happened before in my experience and none of us knew what to expect. But that really gave me the time to go through all eight episodes and to make sure that we were telling all the stories in the right way, to ensure that we were telling the very best stories and making every scene and story work for us. During that time, especially with Henry, I really got to dig even further in with him about what Geralt was experiencing this season and making sure that we were telling it the right way. I think the show really benefits from that kind of reflection.
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Which character’s story arc should fans be most excited about in season two?
Oh, wow! I do think that Ciri’s feels the strongest to me because it feels like she’s travelling the greatest distance. She goes from being a scared princess who’s out in the world on her own to developing a new family and learning to trust that family, and really learning to trust herself. Even more than that, her journey goes from wanting to seek revenge in the beginning–she wants to get back everyone who wronged her in season one–and by the end, realising that seeking revenge on others isn’t going to help her overcome her trauma and that she has to go more internal and deeper than that.
Geralt’s story arc in season two is very similar because he’s with her on that journey so he changes from being solely a Witcher to a father figure but also has to face the parts in himself that he thinks he has been avoiding for a long time and building barriers against. He’s so open and vulnerable in season two.
Yennefer’s storyline is the one that I want to spoil the least, of course, because it’s the biggest surprise to people but she has to come to terms with what she wants. In season one we set that chessboard up which is, does she want power? Does she want a child? How can she have all of that? In season two we realise the sacrifices that she had to make and she gets to a place of self-assurance by the end of the season and that’s really beautiful for her.