The Witcher is one among Netflix’s biggest fantasy sensations. The series has attained global popularity with its intricate world, complicated characters, and twisting storylines. But early on, Netflix had a really different plan for it. As a substitute of creating a series, The streaming platform originally believed in turning The Witcher right into a single movie. Yes, only one film for all eight books. The thought was examined in 2017 when Netflix first picked up the rights.
The show was based on books by Polish creator Andrzej Sapkowski. Nonetheless, it now has run for 3 seasons. The series stars Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, Anya Chalotra as Yennefer, and Freya Allan as Ciri. But before fans got to see Geralt’s world develop on screen, Netflix almost went a really distinct route.
This early plan was dropped when Netflix executives realized the source material was too vast for a movie. Complex characters and deep backstories needed more time. The thought of a movie eventually became a multi-season series. However the story behind that shift is a surprising one. Here’s how The Witcher went from a movie idea to a full-blown Netflix series.
In 2017, Netflix was finagling a feature film based on The Witcher books. Discussions began shortly after they acquired rights to Andrzej Sapkowski’s work. Kelly Luegenbiehl, Netflix’s Vice President of Creative for International Originals, questioned the concept. She asked how all eight novels could fit into one film. Luegenbiehl noted the books had an excessive amount of depth for a single movie.
In an interview with Publishers Weekly, she said, “There’s a lot material here. There’s a lot you could do.” Her concerns made Netflix rethink the format. The project was reworked as a series. This gave room for the books’ complex characters and intertwined storylines.
Many fans know The Witcher from the video games. However the games and the show each come from Sapkowski’s books. The saga includes eight books. The Last Wish is a succinct story compilation that got here out in 1993. It introduced Geralt of Rivia, who’s a monster hunter with supernatural potencies. Netflix’s Season 1 adapts stories from this book.
Season 2 draws from Blood of Elves, the primary full novel within the series. Netflix’s initial plan for a movie didn’t match the books’ structure. Sapkowski’s stories cover years of events, political conflicts, and character growth.
A two-hour movie would should cut primary parts of the story. Geralt’s bond with Ciri, Yennefer’s past, and the Continent’s politics are complex. Each season scours distinct parts of the saga. This format gives more time for character growth and world-building.
After deciding a movie wasn’t enough, Netflix moved forward with a show. Lauren Schmidt Hissrich was brought on as showrunner. She adapted Sapkowski’s books for television. Season 1 dropped in 2019 and have become a worldwide hit. Fans loved the motion, dark fantasy, and solid. Netflix used the show to dive deeper into The Witcher universe. It introduced Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri.
The format also gave space to explore Sapkowski’s complex plotlines. Netflix’s decision to drop the movie plan shaped The Witcher into the series it’s today. What began as a movie idea became a multi-season fantasy saga. The show stays one among Netflix’s top fantasy titles. And all of it began with a change in vision—from movie to series.
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