A podcast detailing behind-the-scenes production of The Witcher is coming. Season 1 of Netflix's adaptation of Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski's grim fantasy of the same name premiered last month to great audience reception, and has even spawned a catchy fan phenomenon with the "Toss a Coin to Your Witcher" song.
The series follows Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), a Witcher, a genetically modified human tasked with killing dangerous and magical creatures to protect vulnerable townsfolk from threats their armies can't seem to handle. Season 1 of the show sets up the world-shaking plot that brings Geralt into contact with Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra), a rogue mage, and Ciri (Freya Allan), an orphaned princess with unknown magical powers and apparent importance to the season's villain, Cahir (Eamon Farren). The Witcher season 1 is a chronologically twisty set of early episodes, which open up onto a dramatic battle in the season finale.
There's a lot going on in season 1, and some changes from The Witcher books have already been explained, but a new podcast from Netflix featuring behind-the-scenes details and discussion by series creatives, cast, and crew has been announced by showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich on Twitter. The series will run three episodes and premieres episode 1 this Wednesday, Jan. 8.
There is a trailer offering enticing sneak peeks of the interviews listed on a SmartURL link provided by Hissrich, and that page also says the podcast will be available on PocketCasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher, although the trailer is also on Google Play Music along with the previous season of Netflix's Behind the Scenes, which is hosted by Brandon Jenkins. Jenkins has also hosted Netflix's There's Something About Dolemite podcast, and hosted Mogul season 2 at Gimlet Media as well, which gives him a solid background in podcasting and interviewing to help guide this journey behind the camera. Netflix's podcast, though, should keep fans entertained a little while longer as they wait for The Witcher season 2, which won't arrive until 2021.
There's not too much in the trailer, although it does give a small hint at how the show managed to get made in the first place, with a mention that they wrote a letter directly to Sapkowski and he said it "sounds interesting." The Witcher has had a popular series of video games (which inspired Henry Cavill to audition for the role of Geralt to begin with) but there has been a conflict over licensing rights between the game studio CD Projekt Red and Sapkowski, which thankfully was recently resolved. It's nice to hear that even before that bit of happy news Sapkowski was willing to hear out new projects and potentially provide his blessing.
Behind The Scenes season 2 premieres Wednesday, January 8, 2020 on all major podcasting platforms
Source: Lauren S. Hissrich/Twitter