Netflix's 'The Witcher' TV series set to add some Marvel magic to their creative team
When Polish video game publisher CD Projekt Red bought the rights to Andrej Sapkowski's 'The Witcher' novel series and adapted it into a game, few expected it to reach the astronomical levels of success it did. But here we are in 2018 and Netflix has announced that the beloved game will be adapted into an eight-episode TV series, with the production having already begun in May 2017.
While details on the show are still not available, considering it is still in the fledgling stage, there have been some confirmations on the names that will be taking charge of the creative direction of the show. Fans of a game as popular as 'The Witcher' series are known to be notoriously prickly, but no doubt they will feel a little relieved to know that those hired to flesh out the show are as experienced as they come.
It was already reported in December 2017 that Lauren Schmidt Hissrich - who has previously written scripts for critically acclaimed shows such as 'The West Wing,' 'Justice,' 'Do No Harm,' 'Daredevil,' and 'The Defenders' - will serve as the showrunner for the show. Sapkowski will be the head of the creative department, meaning fans will have little to worry about the show not doing justice to either the books or the game.
Hissrich has now confirmed some of the others who will be joining her and Sapkowski on the creative team, and well, they include some veteran marvel writers. Jenny Klein (Jessica Jones), Sneha Koorse (Constantine, Daredevil), Claire Higgins (The Worst Witch), and Declan de Barra (Funky Fables, The Originals) are all going to be involved in shaping the story and creative direction of the show.
Hissrich even took to Twitter to announce her excitement at working with the talented group of writers, posting: "I can't imagine a better day. The #Witcher writers' room opened today, and it was full of ideas and banter and cupcakes and creativity and darkness and champagne and this hilarious picture that's better than any of the posed group selfies I attempted. It's happening."
While the casting information for the project is not available as of yet, Hissrich did reveal some important information. She tweeted: "I think the only two things I've ever, ever confirmed are: 1.) Geralt will be a man. 2.) The show won't be watered down."
She also shared the details of all the insights they are considering while shaping some of the series' primary characters in a series of tweets which read:
And now, all in one handy thread... #TheWitcher characters.
"GERALT IS: Stoic. Circumspect. Balanced. Fierce.
"Soft-and-squishy-in-a-tiny-place-in-his-heart-that-he'll-never-reveal-until-maybe-the-end-and-even-then-it-will-just-be-a-hint
"ANGOULÊME IS: Sharp. (Anything but) Simple. A phoenix from the flames. The missing piece.
"Determined-to-survive-the-s***-despite-never-being-given-the-tools-to-do-so-and-found-a-family-where-she-least-expected-but-also-found-what-it-meant-to-be-loyal-to-someone-other-than-herself
"YARPEN ZIGRIN IS: Fiesty. Fierce. Wise. A diplomat of the highest order.
"His-gruff-demeanor-and-crude-language-belies-an-intelligent-soul-who-has-his-finger-on-the-pulse-of-the-Continent's-complicated-landscape-and-who's-well-on-his-way-to-a-life-in-politics-VOTE-FOR-YARPEN!"
The first season of the much-awaited series will cover the first two novels in Sapkowski's series, 'Sword of Destiny,' and 'The Last Wish.' Those eagerly waiting will have to do so for a while yet, with the show not expected to hit the streaming platform until at least 2020.
