Netflix is expanding The Witcher universe with The Witcher: Blood Origin release, but the franchise already treading on thin ice. With Rings of Power and House of the Dragon boasting big studio budgets, massive followings, and intricate lore, The Witcher: Blood Origin has its work cut out to compete with these fantasy pop culture shows of the new age. The Witcher franchise is ambitiously trying to establish itself as a new pillar of the genre but has been riddled with challenges from its recast controversies and added pressure from the success of its contemporaries.

The Witcher: Blood Origin utilizes a similar franchise strategy to Rings of Power and House of the Dragon, focusing on narratives a long time before the main timeline. Capitalizing on The Witcher sensation and Man of Steel actor Henry Cavill’s popularity, Blood Origin shakily stands behind fantasy big leagues (Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones), using them as a gauge for the franchise’s future. Yet Cavill’s apparent departure from The Witcher has made audiences cautious. As The Witcher doesn’t seem to garner enough intrigue and hype as Rings of Power or House of the Dragon, this fact alone spells bad news for Blood Origin’s Netflix debut.

Related: Cavill Leaving The Witcher Would Be Even Worse If Not For Blood Origin

The Witcher Took Advantage Of Game Of Thrones' Downfall

Game of Thrones Daenerys Jon Snow Cirilla Yennefer Geralt The Witcher

As a television phenomenon, Game of Thrones reached record-breaking heights with its countless nominations and awards; most notable are 164 nominations and 59 wins at the Primetime Emmy Awards, earned throughout its eight-season run. But despite its numerous accolades and critical reception, Game of Thrones season 8 still received significant backlash for its rushed narrative and controversial series finale. Although the final season had mixed reactions, audiences' disappointment with Game of Thrones’ ending ignited a search for a high-fantasy series replacement which ultimately benefited The Witcher.

With Game of Thrones season 8 still a fresh conversation by the time The Witcher season 1 released in December 2019, the dark supernatural fantasy raised considerable clamor from streaming viewership, even ranking second on Netflix's Top 10 English TV shows at the time. Additionally, The Witcher season 1’s non-linear storytelling and world-building functioned as a Game of Thrones' palette cleanser, making it a contender for the non-existent “next Game of Thrones” title before the internet called out the fantasy series comparison wars. It’s also worth noting that Henry Cavill’s Geralt of Rivia significantly boosted interest in the show, adding to The Witcher’s book and video game fans.

Rings Of Power & HOTD Are A Problem For The Witcher S3 Too

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Both Blood Origin and The Witcher season 3 have their work cut out for them. Because Rings of Power and House of the Dragon have garnered rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, it’s become an unspoken expectation that anything and everything released after them should be just as good. Continually raising the bar for a new generation, the Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones prequels enter the streaming mayhem, directly targeting The Witcher’s viewing population.

Amid all The Witcher controversies (like Cavill tossing his witcher’s season 4 coin to Liam Hemsworth) already affecting Blood Origin’s optics, Rings of Power and House of the Dragon have the clear blockbuster advantage to skew The Witcher franchise’s success. However, The Witcher season 3 is predicted to drop in Summer 2023 which is earlier than both Rings of Power and House of the Dragon’s season 2 prospective releases in 2024. If The Witcher season 3 opts for this strategic release (or a weekly one) then it might have a fighting chance to gain and maintain its interest momentum to survive alongside Rings of Power and House of the Dragon.

Next: The Witcher S2 Fell Into A Franchise Trap (Season 3 Can't Do That Again)