During the first-ever WitcherCon event today, Netflix revealed the teaser trailer and a behind-the-scenes look for The Witcher Season 2 and announced that the new season will premiere on December 17! You can watch the trailer and behind-the-scenes video using the players below.
The event featured a number of interactive panels with The Witcher Season 2 talent, including Henry Cavill, Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, Mimî M Khayisa, Paul Bullion, Lauren Schmidt Hissrich and Declan de Barra.
The streaming service revealed the first photos and episode titles from The Witcher Season 2. Here’s what you can expect: Episode 1 – A Grain of Truth; Episode 2 – Kaer Morhen; Episode 3 – What Is Lost; Episode 4 – Redanian Intelligence; Episode 5 – Turn Your Back; Episode 6 – Dear Friend; Episode 7 – Voleth Meir; and Episode 8 – [REDACTED].
Below, you’ll also find a first look at anime series The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf in the form of the poster and trailer!
During WitcherCon, executive producer Lauren Schmidt Hissrich talked about the relationship between Geralt and Ciri: “At the end of Season 1, we have what I think is one of the sort of most emotional scenes that we’ve done, which is Geralt and Ciri finding each other after they’ve both been searching all season… And it seems like we’ve got a father figure and daughter figure, and everything’s going to be perfect at that point, except for they’ve never met.
“And so it was really fun to start Season 2 thinking about, well, they’re not a family yet. How do they grow to be one? What do you do if you are a person like Geralt, who has sworn he doesn’t need anyone in the world whatsoever? And then he’s presented with a girl who is now solely in his care.”
She added: “And we have Ciri, who’s used to being under the care of people but has basically been running from everyone for an entire season and now being told that this person is going to take care of you. And so it was really fun to start Season 2 kind of them a little uncertain about how to be with each other, and they have to really grow into that. We wanted to make sure that felt like an authentic relationship, that they weren’t just bonded at the very beginning.”
Freya Allan talked about whether we are going to see Ciri in training sequences this season: “[Training] was one of the things I was most excited about for Season 2, because I love doing all that. I love the stunt department. We have the best people involved, and they’re so much fun and get the best out of you. But yes, Ciri begins training and it actually becomes one of her main kind of drives. She’s very determined, and she really wants to become a great fighter and become a Witcher.”
Anya Chalotra also mentioned her favorite things about her character Yennefer: “I’d have to say, where there’s a will, there’s a way with her. She is a survivor, and I love that about her. That would be my favorite. But there’s lots, there’s many traits I love. We’ve become quite similar. We form each other, I think.”
Henry Cavill, meanwhile, talked about the journey of his character Geralt of Rivia: “I played the Season One way deliberately, which was him out in the wilds and without the opportunity for vast swathes of dialogue. I thought it best to be the man who says less because that seems like he’s thinking more. And that was the intention with that. But once you get into a scenario with Cirilla, and the Witchers and his home space and with those people who he already knows, I was of the opinion that you had to let him be verbose and be philosophical and speak more and be intellectual, because that’s what he is. He’s not just a big old white-haired brute.”
Hissrich also talked about the new characters in The Witcher Season 2: “There are so many characters that we’re introducing in Season 2. We are getting to see Dijkstra for the first time and sort of the Redanian Kingdoms. I know a lot of fans are excited to meet Philippa for the first time, Codringher and Fenn, Rience, Nenneke. There’s so many, but I would have to say Vesemir is the one I’m looking most forward to our audience meeting. Vesemir is so integral to the story that we’re telling this season.
“Obviously, we’re returning to Kaer Morhen for the first time, and in a season that is about Geralt becoming a father to Ciri, it felt so important to meet who his father figure was. And you end up with this multigenerational story because Vesemir and Ciri have a story as well, and it does start to feel like, “Oh, all of these people are meant to be interacting and learning from each other and fighting with each other.”
Joey Batey (Knightfall, Strike) will return as fan-favorite Jaskier. Joining The Witcher series for its second season are Kim Bodnia (Killing Eve) as Vesemir, the Continent’s oldest and most experienced Witcher, Yasen Atour (Young Wallender) as Coen, Agnes Bjorn as Vereena, and Paul Bullion (Peaky Blinders) as Lambert.
The new cast members are rounded out by Basil Eidenbenz (Victoria) as Eskel, Aisha Fabienne Ross (The Danish Girl) as Lydia, Kristofer Hivju (Game of Thrones) as Nivellen, and recent graduate Mecia Simson, as Francesca.
Other returning cast members include MyAnna Buring (Kill List) as Tissaia, Tom Canton (Good Karma Hospital) as Filavandrel, Lilly Cooper (Peterloo) as Murta, Jeremy Crawford (Titans) as Yarpin Zigrin, Eamon Farren (Twin Peaks) as Cahir, and Mahesh Jadu (Marco Polo) as Vilgefortz.
Also back are Terence Maynard (Cursed) as Artorius, Lars Mikkelson (House of Cards) as Stregobor, Mimi Ndiweni (Black Earth Rising) as Fringilla Vigo, Royce Pierreson (Judy) as Istredd, Wilson Radjou-Pujalte (Hunter Street) as Dara, Anna Shaffer (Harry Potter) as Triss Merigold, and Therica Wilson Read (Young Wallender) as Sabrina.
Based on the best-selling fantasy series of books, The Witcher series is an epic tale of fate and family. Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.
But when destiny hurtles him toward a powerful sorceress, and a young princess with a dangerous secret, the three must learn to navigate the increasingly volatile Continent together.
From Kaedwen to Kaer Morhen, and everywhere in between. Where will our adventures take us in Season 2? Get a first look at our episode titles and logos and see what destiny has in store.
Throughout its many portrayals in the games and on-screen, Kaer Morhen has long been the sanctuary of Geralt and his witcher brothers; but what’s the history behind this ancient castle and its place in witcher mythology? Here’s everything you need to know about the beloved home of the Wolf School!
Face your demons. The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf premieres August 23, 2021 worldwide on Netflix.
