UPDATE: Fans of The Witcher have a mix of good and bad news today as Netflix confirms Season 5 of the hit fantasy series, but the release date remains a mystery.
Just released on December 14, 2023, all eight episodes of Season 4 introduce Liam Hemsworth as the new Geralt of Rivia, taking over from Henry Cavill. While the transition has left some fans bewildered, the series is not critically acclaimed either, boasting a mere 58% on Rotten Tomatoes and an even lower audience score of 18%.
Despite mixed reviews, Netflix has kept the franchise alive, also launching a surprise film titled The Rats: A Witcher Tale alongside Season 4. This suggests that there is still interest in exploring The Witcher universe further.
Confirmed: Season 5 has already been filmed back-to-back with Season 4, and fans can expect to see Hemsworth return alongside key cast members such as Freya Allan as Ciri and Anya Chalotra as Yennefer. However, Netflix has not disclosed when viewers can expect to dive back into the gripping adventures on The Continent.
Unfortunately, there is also disappointing news: Season 5 will be the final season of The Witcher, ending any hopes for further seasons unless a spin-off is announced. This news may dampen fan excitement, especially as the latest season failed to rank among Netflix’s top shows, sitting at a distant third behind Nobody Wants This and Selling Sunset.
In terms of storyline, Lauren Schmidt-Hissrich, the showrunner, shared that Seasons 4 and 5 will adapt the remaining novels of the series, including Baptism of Fire and The Tower of the Swallow. However, many fans are concerned about the drastic changes made from the source material, leading to disappointment over the show’s direction.
“I expected to have this period of mourning… I kept waiting for that to hit me,”
Hissrich stated in a recent interview regarding the end of her time with the series. With Season 5 currently in post-production, it is likely that The Witcher will return to Netflix sometime in 2026.
As of now, you can catch up on all episodes of The Witcher Season 4 and the new film The Rats: A Witcher Tale, both streaming exclusively on Netflix. Fans are eagerly waiting for more news about the series’ future and hoping for a satisfying conclusion to Geralt’s journey.
