Following the wild success of the video game series, Netflix will develop and produce a television show adapted from The Witcher Saga. But based on initial appearances, it seems that the series will be more closely related to the original source material, the eight novels by Andrzej Sapkowski. Sapkowski’s novels have been a widespread success in their own right, topping the New York Times bestselling list numerous times. They have also been translated into 20 different languages.
The series follows main character Geralt of Rivia, who became a “witcher,” or a person made to develop supernatural abilities through training and body modification, at a young age. Witchers use these abilities to hunt and battle various monsters and mythical creatures. Sapkowski’s enthusiasm about the adaptation is palpable. “I’m thrilled that Netflix will be doing an adaptation of my stories, staying true to the source material and the themes that I have spent over thirty years writing,” he explained in a press release. “I’m excited about our efforts together, as well as the team assembled to shepherd these characters to life.” Sapkowski will himself serve as a creative consultant for the series, so he will likely make sure that the adaptation remains true to his novels.
The rest of the team is similarly impressive. Tomek Bagiński, director of the Oscar nominated short The Cathedral, who also directed the introductory videos for each of the three games, will be helming at least one episode per season. Sean Daniel and Jason Brown (from The Expanse) have signed on as executive producers, in addition to Bagiński and Jarek Sawko from Polish production company Platige Image.
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Sawko and Bagiński were careful to mention how important the nuances of the original work were to them. “There is a moral and intellectual depth in these books which goes beyond genre,” they said. “It is a story about today and today’s challenges, hidden under a fantasy cover. It is a story about us, about the monster and the hero inside all of our hearts.”
There is no further information about casting or directorial choices, so until they are announced, all we can do is hope the Netflix series is better than the Saga’s other adaptation, Poland’s The Hexer.
