Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich (Daredevil, The Defenders) has revealed which characters known from Andrzej Sapkowski's books will appear in Netflix's adaptation. Thankfully, the writer didn't forget about beloved heroes such as Geralt (duh!), Yennefer, Ciri, Tris Merigold and "morally ambiguous" Vilgefortz and Emhyr var Emreis, the White Flame Dancing on the Barrows of his Enemies.
Hissrich also listed golden dragon Villentretenmerth (known as the shape-shifting knight Borch Three Jackdaw). It will be interesting to see if Netflix will try to challenge HBO's Game of Thrones and that show's Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion. It would require a massive budget (a single GOT episode cost around $10 million to produce), but hopefully Platige Image and Netflix know what they're doing.
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.
YENNEFER IS:
Fiery.
Proud.
Shrewd.
Contradictory.
Seeking-to-fill-a-family-sized-hole-in-her-heart-even-though-she-resents-it-and-swears-she's-just-fine-on-her-own-but-she-is-not-and-we-love-her-for-being-both-independent-and-vulnerable.
CIRI IS:
Resilient.
Relentless.
Brazen.
Growing.
She's-going-to-change-the-world-and-what-the-hell-is-she-supposed-to-do-except-be-scared-and-be-bold-and-learn-and-adapt-and-find-a-family-who-can-walk-by-her-side-no-matter-what-and-maybe-just-maybe-teach-her-the-meaning-of-love.
ROACH IS:
Ladylike.
Faithful.
Extrasensory.
Steady.
Really-annoyed-with-this-game-because-we-can’t-pretend-all-Roaches-are-the-same-so-she’d-prefer-some-singularity-and-individual-recognition-instead-of-all-being-lumped-together-by-blatantly-horsist-people. 🐴
JASKIER (!) IS:
Extravagant.
Caddish.
Loose-lipped.
Loyal.
Hides-behind-the-exterior-of-an-idiot-when-in-actuality-he-is-the-keeper-of-Geralt’s-realities-(even-if-he-exaggerates-his-own-heroics)-AND-the-truths-of-the-world-which-means-he’s-far-more-important-than-we-realize...
TRISS MERIGOLD IS:
Spunky.
Idealistic.
Insecure.
Conflicted.
Young-and-naive-and-lacking-the-confidence-of-sorceresses-which-means-she-is-ripe-for-manipulation-but-when-she-finally-transcends-the-crap-she-has-a-chance-to-be-loved-as-herself-and-not-as-"the-third-wheel-with-Yen".
CAHIR IS:
Conflicted.
Charismatic.
Haunted.
Pure of heart.
Despite-being-young-he's-like-a-relic-of-a-simpler-time-when-knights-in-shining-armor-always-won-the-girl-but-now-in-the-face-of-harsh-reality-he-must-learn-what-it-means-to-actually-be-heroic-and-brave-for-others.
REGIS IS:
Eloquent.
Ensconced.
Worldly.
Haunted.
The-worst-of-the-worst-who-transforms-into-the-best-of-the-best-or-at-least-he-strives-to-be-and-it's-the-most-incredible-journey-to-watch-as-an-evil-addicted-monster-becomes-the-essence-of-"humanity-personified"-in-the-hansa.
VILGEFORTZ IS:
Mercenary.
Conspiratorial.
Power-hungry.
Ruthless.
Handsome-as-all-get-out-which-is-important-because-(as-Geralt-says-“one-could-expect-anything-from-a-man-looking-like-this”)-he-is-the-essence-of-evil-hidden-behind-beauty-which-makes-him-very-very-dangerous.
EMHYR IS:
Imperialistic.
Ruthless.
Monarchical.
Masquerader.
Above-all-he's-a-survivor-having-spent-most-his-life-running-and-pretending-so-it's-no-wonder-he-craves-power-because-what's-more-stable-than-being-on-top-(and-what's-better-than-a-villain-whose-head-you-kinda-get.)
MILVA IS:
Saucy.
Savage.
Conciliatory.
Commonsense.
The-epitome-of-the-novels'-shades-of-grey-who-embodies-unrequited-romance-and-also-unbelievable-strength-and-also-the-skills-to-kill-and-also-the-ability-to-crusade-for-peace-and-also-and-also-and-also.
LEO BONHART IS:
Sadistic.
Ghoulish.
Ruthlessly efficient.
Hedonistic.
His-depth-lies-in-his-lack-of-depth-because-we-keep-searching-for-reason-or-redemption-and-in-fact-there-is-none-just-a-cold-brutal-soul-who-desires-to-be-colder-and-what's-more-terrifying-than-that?
BORCH THREE JACKDAWS/VILLENTRETENMERTH IS:
Perceptive.
Protective.
Merciful.
The most beautiful.
An-observer/-philosopher/-seeker-of-freedom-which-means-he-didn't-kill-just-because-he-could-but-rather-sought-to-understand-why-others-wanted-to-kill-him-which-is-EVERYTHING.
The witcher Geralt, a mutated monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.
Netflix's The Witcher doesn't have a release date yet.