Before the second season of Netflix’s hit fantasy series The Witcher even arrived, the streamer made the exciting announcement that season three is officially on the way as well.
And Netflix has now begun teasing when the new run will arrive, with a poster unveiled at global fan event TUDUM teasing that we can expect to be reunited with Geralt and co in summer 2023.
The Time of Contempt is nigh. ????
— The Witcher (@witchernetflix) September 24, 2022
The Witcher returns to Netflix in Summer 2023 #TUDUM pic.twitter.com/MUzOKXwFjV
The streamer had previously announced on social media that the show had begun the process of filming the next run of episodes in April 2022.
“Season 3 of [The Witcher] is now in production – we’ve been waiting for this family reunion!” it confirmed in a tweet alongside an image from the show’s set (above) featuring Henry Cavill, Freya Allan, and Anya Chalotra all sitting around and chatting with one another.
The new season is likely to delve further into Ciri’s destiny following the end of season two (read more about the plot below), and showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich previously revealed that the third season is based on The Time of Contempt, which sees Yennefer, Ciri and Geralt journey to Aretuza so that Ciri can master her magic.
“We’re almost done with the scripting phase, and it’s amazing,” she told TechRadar. “I’m really thrilled with how the season is shaping up because it’s based on my favourite book in the saga, which is The Time of Contempt.
“I feel like seasons 1 and 2 have been laying the playing field for everything huge that’s about to happen,” she added. “But the creative process is now really just starting. We have the scripts, and now we’ll bring directors on, the actors back in, and really start delving in deeper and reflecting back and making sure that it’s the perfect season.”
If you’ve already binged the new season, then you’re probably wondering when you’ll get to see Cavill’s big grey wig bobbing around on your screens in the show’s third run.
Here’s everything we know so far about The Witcher season three. Alternatively, if you’re wondering about whether there’ll be a season four, check out our guide to everything we know so far about that here.
Will The Witcher return for season 3?
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Fortunately, a third season of The Witcher was confirmed back in September 2021, before the second season was even released.
Toss a coin to our growing Witcher universe! We can officially announce The Witcher Season 3, along with a second anime feature film, and a new Kids and Family series set in the world of The Witcher. pic.twitter.com/E032fDAXYx
— The Witcher (@witchernetflix) September 25, 2021
Freya Allan, who plays Ciri on the series, revealed back in December 2021 that she’d already had a sneak peek at the scripts for the third run – and that she thinks it’s going to be “a great season”.
Speaking to RadioTimes.com, she said: “I might have actually seen some scripts, you know?. Just putting it out there. I don’t know exactly [when it’ll be], but it will be not too long away.”
She added: “It’s very exciting. I think it’s going to be a great season.”
The Witcher season 3 release date rumours
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There’s no word as yet on an exact release date for The Witcher season 3 – but it has been confirmed that it will air at some point in summer 2023.
This was revealed on a new poster that was released as part of Netflix’s global fan event TUDUM in Setpember 2022, but details as to a specific date are still forthcoming.
The Witcher season two was delayed multiple times thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the injury that Cavill sustained on set, and arrived almost two years after the first one.
The Witcher season 3 cast rumours
The following cast members have been confirmed for The Witcher season 3.
- Henry Cavill as monster-tackling Geralt
- Freya Allan as Cirilla AKA Ciri
- Anya Chalotra as Yennefer of Vengerberg
Speaking to RadioTimes.com, Allan revealed it was “very hard to say” how Ciri could evolve in future episodes.
“You sort of discover that as you go along, really,” she said. “It’s something that you can’t necessarily say what you want. You’re discovering it as you play it, and just using the script in whatever way you do.
“But I would say I definitely, obviously want to see her become an insane fighter,” she added. “That’s for sure. I can’t wait for her to get her proper sword. The day that I get handed a proper silver, heavy sword, is going to be the day that I’m content.”
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Aside from these Cavill, Allan and Chalotra, we’d also expect season two cast member Joey Batey to reprise his role as Jaskier, especially since they’ve already spoken out about where they’d like to see their character go in future seasons.
Speaking to RadioTimes.com, Batey said he’d like to see Jaskier be part of storylines that could “help young people work out who they are, or how they fit in a changing world”.
“Being part of these stories that manage to take an awful lot of what’s happening in our contemporary world and our actual world and show them through a lens of fantasy, and not just delve into dragons and sword fights and stuff, but we actually get to see bits of this world that resonate, particularly for younger people,” he said.
“If I’m in any way part of those kinds of storylines, which can help young people work out who they are or how they fit in a changing world, then that’s something that I’m incredibly excited to be a part of.”
However, Allan has said she would like to try her hand at other roles one day – and that she has an endpoint in mind for leaving The Witcher – so viewers will have to wait and see what’s in store for season three.
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In addition, Royce Pierreson is expected to return as Istredd, Anna Shaffer as Triss Merigold and Kim Bodnia as Vesemir.
Talking about whether he could return to our screens in a third season, Paul Bullion, who plays Lambert, told RadioTimes.com in an exclusive interview: “You know, it’s no secret, I love the series, and I love the project. We’re very excited about it. So, yeah, I’m happy to, in the future… If I’m lucky enough to be part of the expansive plans that they’ve got, then, hey, look, let’s see how series two goes down.”
Yasen Atour, who stars as Coen, added: “Listen, why wouldn’t I? – is your answer. You know what I mean? It’s been an absolute pleasure and honour to be part of a show of that magnitude. There are conversations. I can’t go too deep into that, but I think: watch this space.
“It is, also, a business, and it’s about what works, and what doesn’t. It’s not a case of just being in a show for, you know, just being in a show. There has to be a story, and it has to connect with the world, and how the story’s going to move forward.”
In addition, Liz Carr, who plays Fenn, has also said she would “love the opportunity to return”.
“I don’t know a thing about this, but I know there is a series three, or that’s the plan, for a season three. Lauren’s been on Twitter, talking about that, in the writer’s room. So I would love the opportunity to return and do a little bit more with Codringher and Fenn.”
Season two introduced a whole host of new characters, so that’s bound to continue into season three as well.
The Witcher season 3 plot: What will happen?
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It looks like The Witcher season 3 is going to delve further into Ciri’s destiny after those season two cliffhangers, which revealed that The Wild Hunt wants Ciri for her ‘Hen Ikeir’ (Elder Blood), given that she potentially has the power to restore the elves to their former glory.
As Geralt said of Ciri’s destiny in season two: “The demon; the Wild Hunt — she’s marked for something, and it doesn’t end there. If mages and royals find out she’s still alive and what she’s capable of, they won’t stop coming for her.”
There’ll be a tense hunt for Ciri in future episodes, with Yennefer and Geralt scrabbling to protect her as the main trio become tied together in one epic storyline.
Hissrich recently told TechRadar that the third season is based on The Time of Contempt, which sees Yennefer, Ciri and Geralt journey to Aretuza so that Ciri can learn how to master her magic.
“We’re almost done with the scripting phase, and it’s amazing,” she revealed. “I’m really thrilled with how the season is shaping up because it’s based on my favourite book in the saga, which is The Time of Contempt.
“I feel like seasons 1 and 2 have been laying the playing field for everything huge that’s about to happen,” she added. “But the creative process is now really just starting. We have the scripts, and now we’ll bring directors on, the actors back in, and really start delving in deeper and reflecting back and making sure that it’s the perfect season,” she added.
The official plot synopsis for season 3 reads: “As monarchs, mages, and beasts of the Continent compete to capture her, Geralt takes Ciri of Cintra into hiding, determined to protect his newly-reunited family against those who threaten to destroy it.
“Entrusted with Ciri’s magical training, Yennefer leads them to the protected fortress of Aretuza, where she hopes to discover more about the girl’s untapped powers; instead, they discover they’ve landed in a battlefield of political corruption, dark magic, and treachery. They must fight back, put everything on the line — or risk losing each other forever.”
If you want a recap of what happened in the final episode of the previous season, you can read our The Witcher season 2 ending explainer.
The Witcher season 3 trailer: When will it be released?
No amount of magic could materialise a trailer for season 3 when the crew haven’t even begun filming yet, but we’ll keep this page updated with all the latest footage and clips when it emerges.
Additional reporting by Huw Fullerton.
The Witcher season 2 is now available on Netflix. The release date for season 3 is yet to be confirmed.
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