A new clip from The Witcher teases an impressive fight sequence. The upcoming Netflix series arrives on December 20, much to the delight of fans who have long been waiting an English language adaptation of the popular fantasy novels.
Set in a medieval world in which gifted beast hunters known as Witchers utilize their specific range of supernatural and physical attributes to take on a variety of monsters, The Witcher first found success as a series of novels and short stories from Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. Initially writing The Witcher as a short story on a whim for a Polish science fiction and fantasy magazine, the story placed third and Sapkowski was launched into a highly successful career as a novelist. Since that time, Sapkowski’s novels – which focus specifically on a Witcher called Geralt of Rivia, have become an international phenomenon, adapted into numerous mediums, with a particularly popular video game series from CD Projekt Red.
As previously mentioned, The Witcher series on Netflix will mark the first large scale English adaptation of the novels. Previously thought to be a film, many fans were delighted to learn in 2017 that the film had been scrapped in favor of a new TV series. So far Netflix has released a trailer for the new series, and now the streaming giant has taken to their Twitter account in order to highlight a new fight sequence in which Geralt – who is portrayed by Man of Steel star, Henry Cavill, shows off his sword fighting abilities. You can check out the full clip below:
Though the clip is only 24 seconds in length, the action is at breakneck speed, with Cavill displaying the sort of intensity that fans have come to expect from Geralt. Previous efforts to bring the popular franchise to the big screen as well as TV in 2001 and 2002, respectively, were met with a genuine lack of enthusiasm from Sapkowski. This time around, the adaptation will take its time with the source material, avoiding what could be described as the mistake of trying to cram all the events of the first novel into a single 8-episode season. In fact, with previous promises from The Witcher’s showrunner, Lauren Schmidt Hissrich not to water the series down, so far the series appears to be in good hands. In a way, The Witcher’s past failures in cinema and television can serve as a legitimate blue print for what not to do with this new Netflix series. Whether it hits the right mark with all fans is never an easy task for any beloved franchise, but this time around things appear to be on the right track.
Aside from attempting to please finicky fans, it’s important to remember that despite the popularity of The Witcher in all its forms, a big portion of its success will depend on the program’s ability to draw in those who haven’t read the books or played the games. If The Witcher can manage to create a fanbase beyond its built-in devotees, then Netflix could have a major hit on its hands. And as anyone who’s been paying attention to the recent arrival of Disney+ will know, at this point, Netflix can use any advantage it can get over the encroaching strength of its competitors.
