Only 3 years since Netflix premiered the first season of their fantasy seriesThe Witcher, the original series’ showrunnerLauren Schmidt Hissrichand writerDeclan de Barraare taking fans back to the beginning inThe Witcher: Blood Origin. Based on the novels by authorAndrzej Sapkowski,Blood Originis set 1200 years before the events of Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), and will exploreThe Witchermultiverse before the monsters plagued the Continent, as well as how the proto-Witcher came to be.
Blood Originwill feature an ensemble cast that fans know will seeJoey Bateyreprising his role as Jaskier, and will introduce Sophia Brown as Éile,Michelle Yeohas Scian,Laurence O’Fuarainas Fjall,Minnie Driveras Seanchaí,Mirren Mackas Merwyn,Lenny Henryas Balor,Nathaniel Curtisas Brían,Dylan Moranas Uthrok One-Nut, andJacob Collins-Levyas Eredin.
With the prequel premiering exclusively on Netflix this December 25, Hissrich and De Barra (who now serves asBlood Origin’s showrunner) sat down with Collider’sSteve Weintraub. During their interview, they share what they’re most looking forward to for fans of the universe to see, and discuss the elven culture and how they fell on hard times duringThe Witcher. They also talk new, “beautiful songs,” the endless possibilities of exploring this world with future spinoffs, and how the switch toLiam Hemsworthwill affect filming forThe WitcherSeason 4. You can watch the interview in the video above, or read the full transcript below.
COLLIDER: I am curious for both of you, what are you actually most excited for fans to see in the prequel series?
DECLAN DE BARRA: For me, it’s exciting the fans by showing the elves in a different light. For me, one of the most fascinating things in the Sapkowski books was, how did they fall so far from being such a strong species on the continent? How do they get to the point where the pre-agrarian and barely functioning and are having trouble reproducing? How do they fall? And getting to see them at their height in a very different light with different costuming, and they’re seeing what their architecture was like and their music and science and magic, how it’s very different to the world ofThe Witcher. So it’s surprising, but still complimentary to that world. That’s the bit I’m excited about.
LAUREN HISSRICH: I could list out a million things asWitchermom that I’m excited about, things that will lead into the main series. But just stepping back, because I’ve watched the series many times, and I think it’s amazing. I’m really excited for fans to hear the original music, I have to say. Declan is a musician. His skills are all overWitcherSeason 1 and 2. And the fact that we get such beautiful songs that I believe are going to stick in people’s heads, they’re so emotional, they’re so heart-wrenching. As a fan, I would say that’s the thing I’m most excited for everyone to see.
I’m curious, Lauren, with the popularity of the series, do you think that there will be more prequel series or spinoffs? Is that something that Netflix is talking about with live-action stuff?
HISSRICH: I think the stories that we have in our back pockets, the things that Sapkowski sets out for us that I will never be able to cover in the mainWitcherseries, I think the possibilities are endless. I think it really depends on the continued appetite for fans to show up and see more of these stories.
DE BARRA: And it fits into the world of Sapkowski as well because he’s the king of little, short, contained stories that feed the world, but isolated by themselves, exist on their own. So the idea of side quests and side shows and prequels all fits into the world withThe Witcherin my mind, anyway.
Last question for you. Obviously, you’re changing the cast with Season 4 ofThe Witcher. I’m curious, how does that possibly change the filming schedule with Liam [Hemsworth]? Because Henry’s [Cavill] schedule is always a little busy, and I’m just curious with Liam, do you think you’ll be filming that sooner than maybe… Have you already thought about that?
HISSRICH: Yeah. But that is so far away for us right now, and that’s going to be up to [the] powers that be. Honestly, I’m really excited forWitcherSeason 4. I think it’s going to be fantastic. I can’t wait to get started. We’re not there. So right now, I just really want to keep the focus onBlood Originand all of this amazing work.
