Netflix’s ‘The Witcher’ to resume season two production in August
Geralt and company should still be on track for a 2021 return
The COVID-19 pandemic has given people much more time to watch their favorite TV shows and movies. However, it has also forced the entertainment production industry into a standstill. Sets and shooting locations have gone dark as actors, actresses, and crews practice social distancing and quarantine to stop the spread of the virus.
Following the debut of its wildly popular first season, Netflix’s “The Witcher” had its sophomore season delayed by the pandemic. Its production, mostly located in the U.K., halted in March. Fortunately, fans of Geralt and company now have something to smile about.
The show’s official Twitter account confirmed on Monday that production for season two is slated to resume in August.
Back in Style
Fans of Netflix’s smash-hit fantasy show likely enjoyed how the resumption of filming was announced. It took on the poetic style of Jaskier, a fan favorite bard that is a staple of the “Witcher” franchise.
“I’m dusting off my lute and quill, I have some news, some mead to spill: After all the months we’ve been apart it’s time for production to restart. The Witcher and his bard — who’s flawless, will reunite on set 17 August,” reads the poem.
https://twitter.com/witchernetflix/status/1275020721803198470
It confirms that “The Witcher’s” production will resume on August 17. For those who are counting, that’s just under two months away.
The show first suspended its production in March shortly after it started at Wokingham’s Arborfield Studios. “Game of Thrones” actor Kristofer Hivju (Tormund Giantsbane) was diagnosed with COVID-19 during filming. Hivju will appear in the second season of “The Witcher” as Nivellen, a supporting character who Geralt helps in many adventures throughout the franchise.
Fortunately, the beloved actor has announced that he has fully recovered from his bout with the novel coronavirus.
Now that the U.K. government is lifting restrictions on most industries — including film and TV production — “The Witcher” is ready to get back on track. An industry source told The Guardian, “Many productions have to get up and running again in the next two months or they won’t get made this year as they rely on summer weather and conditions.”
For Geralt and his fellow characters, the fact that “Witcher” is getting ready to re-enter production is extremely good news.
What to Expect in ‘The Witcher’ Season Two?
Netflix had an instant success on its hands with the first season of “The Witcher.” Although some fans were quick to complain about its multi-timeline format, the show’s story and characters were engaging and enjoyable from the first moments of episode one.
Fortunately, showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich has confirmed that season two will have a more streamlined format. Now that characters like Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer have collided into one timeline, the next stages of the story can progress in a less confusing way.
Despite the production delay caused by COVID-19, it doesn’t appear that “The Witcher’s” second season will suffer a major setback. It is still expected to arrive on Netflix sometime in 2021. The first season debuted on December 20 last year, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see season two arrive at a similar time.
Originally published at https://www.theburnin.com on June 23, 2020.
