The Witcher showrunner Lauren Hissrich promises the fantasy series will explore Geralt's disability in the future. Based on the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski and their subsequent video games, The Witcher debuted on Netflix last year after much excitement and anticipation. The series stars Henry Cavill as monster hunter Geralt of Rivia as he travels the Continent and slowly comes to terms with his destiny. The Witcher also focuses on sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra) and Princess Ciri (Freya Allen) as their lives gradually intertwine. The Witcher season 1 was a huge success for Netflix, who renewed the series for a second season before the first even premiered.
Production on The Witcher season 2 began earlier this year, but it's suffered more than a few setbacks because of the coronavirus pandemic. Currently, filming on The Witcher is suspended because of some positive COVID tests on set, meaning fans will have to wait even longer before they can continue Geralt's story. The first season ended with Geralt finally uniting with Ciri, and it's clear the two will be headed to the witcher training castle Kaer Morhen. Aside from that, fans are excited to learn what's next for their favorite taciturn monster hunter.
Hissrich recently revealed something rather exciting about Geralt's future storylines on The Witcher. Fan mustangsart penned a thoughtful thread about Geralt's disability in the Witcher novels, which was left out of the video games. Following a terrible injury that saw his elbow and thighbone shattered, Geralt continued to experience chronic pain even after the bones had healed. The thread explains why this is so important and why The Witcher television series shouldn't ignore it. Not long after, the thread caught Hissrich's attention, and the showrunner admitted that while she never considered it before, she intends to explore Geralt's disability. "I'm excited to dig into this more. To add this layer to our hero," Hissirch wrote.
This is quite a monumental step for The Witcher, and it's a positive sign for disabled representation going forward. After season 1, The Witcher earned some criticism for how it handled Yennefer's own disability. By giving Geralt's proper examination, the series can work towards a more positive message regarding disabled people. This is still an area that needs far more work in entertainment, and it says a lot that Hissrich is eager to dig into it.
Whether this new facet of Geralt's character will be explored in The Witcher season 2 remains to be seen. However, since work on the season is already underway, there's a chance it won't be touched upon until later. Nevertheless, fans can rest assured that this important piece of Geralt won't be ignored by the television series, and it'll be interesting to see how Hissrich and the others handle it. Provided The Witcher manages to get back on track after its latest setback, fans can expect to see season 2 by the end of next year at the earliest. The wait might stretch on, but hopefully it won't be extended any further.
Source: Lauren S. Hissrich/Twitter