Fresh off Mission: Impossible – Fallout and Justice League, Henry Cavill is taking on the leading role in a new franchise: He will play Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher, Netflix’s television adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski’s fantasy book series. While the adaptation has been in the works for over a year, this casting news is a huge step forward in the series’ development.
Cavill shared the news via a cheeky Instagram post:
Netflix’s See What’s Next Twitter account followed up with a tweet confirming that the fantasy series will consist of eight episodes:
Henry Cavill will play Geralt in #TheWitcher — an epic, eight-episode fantasy series based on the best-selling book series!! pic.twitter.com/fBv0Gpkif9
— Netflix Queue (@netflixqueue) September 4, 2018
And showrunner/executive producer Lauren Schmidt Hissrich (Daredevil, The Defenders, Umbrella Academy) shared her delight with the series’ lead:
He was my first meeting. I didn’t have writers or scripts yet – just a greenlight and a lot of passion. That was four months ago, and I’ve never forgotten the passion he brought. He IS Geralt. He always has been. I’m so thrilled to welcome HENRY CAVILL to the #Witcher family.
— Lauren S. Hissrich (@LHissrich) September 4, 2018
Sapkowski will serve as a creative consultant on the series. Director Alik Sakharov (Game of Thrones) will also be an EP, as well as direct the pilot and three other episodes; future directors include Alex Garcia Lopez (Luke Cage, Utopia) and Charlotte Brändström (Outlander, Counterpart). The official logline, from Netflix’s press release:
Based on the best-selling fantasy series, The Witcher is an epic tale of fate and family. Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts. But when destiny hurtles him toward a powerful sorceress, and a young princess with a dangerous secret, the three must learn to navigate the increasingly volatile Continent together.
Who do you want to see as the rest of the Witcher cast?
