SEASON 3

PRODUCTION NOTES

SEASON 3

Key Information and Credits

Season and Series Synopses

Episode Credits and Loglines

Full Episode Synopses (not for publication)

Character Descriptions

The Monsters of the Continent

In Conversation with Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich

In Conversation with Anya Chalotra (Yennefer of Vengerberg)

In Conversation with Freya Allan (Princess Cirilla of Cintra)

In Conversation with Joey Batey (Jaskier)

In Conversation with Head of Franchise Design Andrew Laws

30 Behind-The-Scenes Facts

Cast Bios
 Crew Bios

KEY INFORMATION AND CREDITS

KEY INFORMATION
Release Date: TBC
Episodes: 8 episodes x 1 hour
Series Created by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
Executive Producers: Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, Steve Gaub, Matt O’Toole, Tomek Bagiński, Mike
Ostrowski, Jarosław Sawko, Jason F. Brown, Sean Daniel
Based on the book series “The Witcher” by Andrzej Sapkowski
English translations of the book series "The Witcher" by David French and Danusia Stok
A Hivemind Production and A Platige Films Production
Starring: Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, Anya Chalotra as Yennefer of Vengerberg, Freya Allan as
Princess Cirilla of Cintra, Joey Batey as Jaskier, Eamon Farren as Cahir, MyAnna Buring as
Tissaia, Mimî M. Khayisa as Fringilla, Anna Shaffer as Triss Merigold, Mahesh Jadu as Vilgefortz,
Royce Pierreson as Istredd, Tom Canton as Filavandrel, Mecia Simson as Francesca Findabair,
Wilson Mbomio as Dara, Jeremy Crawford as Yarpin Zigrin, Terence Maynard as Artorius, Lars
Mikkelson as Stregobor, Therica Wilson Read as Sabrina, Aisha Fabienne Ross as Lydia, Cassie
Clare as Philippa Eilhart, Liz Carr as Fenn, Simon Callow as Codringher, Ed Birch as King Vizimir,
Kaine Zajaz as Gage, Bart Edwards as Emhyr, Sam Woolf as Rience and Graham McTavish as
Dijkstra
Guest Starring: Meng’er Zhang as Milva, Christelle Elwin as Mistle, Hugh Skinner as Prince
Radovid and Robbie Amell as Gallatin
Co-Starring: Sam Hazeldine as Eredin, Jodhi May as Calanthe, Gaia Mondadori as Pavetta,
Rochelle Rose as Margarita, Safiyya Ingar as Keira, Michanlina Olszanka as Marti, Nathan
Armarkwei-Laryea as Valdo Marx, Philip Philmar as Gerhardt, Harvey Quinn as Radcliffe, George
Wigzell as Prood, Frances Pooley as Teryn, Poppy Almond as Bianca, Cal Watson as Eva,
Catherine McCormack as Anika, Jim Sturgeon as Aplegatt, Nicholas Karimi as Skomlik, Sean
Cernow as Veldhoek, Sunny Patel as The Professor, Lorna Brown as Eithne, Hiftu Quasem as
Falka, Beau Holland as Vespula, Martyn Ellis as Barker, Giuseppe Lentini as Giancardi, Fabian
McCallum as Kayleigh, Juliette Alexandra as Reef, Aggy K. Adams as Iskra, Ash Rizi as Vercta,
Connor Crawford as Asse, Ben Radcliffe as Giselher, Andrew Lee Potts as Remiz, Johannes
Hauker Johannesson as Crach An Craite
Creative Consultant: Andrzej Sapkowski
Writers: Mike Ostroski (301), Tania Lotia (302), Haily Hall (303), Rae Benjamin (304), Clare
Higgins (305), Javier Grillo-Marxuach (306), Matthew D'Ambrosio (307), Troy Dangerfield and
Mike Ostrowski (308)
Directors: Stephen Surjik (301, 302), Gandja Monteiro (303, 304), Loni Peristere (305, 306), Bola
Ogun (307, 308)
Directors of Photography: Scott Winig (301, 302, 305, 306), Dale Elena McCready (303,304),
Mike Spragg (307, 308)
Production Designer: Andrew Laws
Music by: Joseph Trapanese
Visual Effects Supervisor: Tim Crosbie
Costume Designer: Lucinda Wright
Makeup & Hair Designer: Deb Watson
Prosthetics Designer: Mark Coulier
Filming Locations: Longcross Film Studios and various locations in England, Croatia, Slovenia,
Italy, Morocco
SERIES SYNOPSIS
Based on the best-selling fantasy series of books, THE WITCHER is an epic tale of fate and
family.  The story of the intertwined destines of three individuals in the vast world of The
Continent, where good and evil is not easily identified.

SEASON 3 SYNOPSIS

As monarchs, mages, and beasts of the Continent compete to capture her, Geralt takes Ciri of
Cintra into hiding, determined to protect his newly-reunited family against those who threaten
to destroy it.  Entrusted with Ciri’s magical training, Yennefer leads them to the protected
fortress of Aretuza, where she hopes to discover more about the girl’s untapped powers;
instead, they discover they’ve landed in a battlefield of political corruption, dark magic, and
treachery.  They must fight back, put everything on the line – or risk losing each other forever.

EPISODE CREDITS AND LOG-LINES

Episode 1: “Shaerrawedd” 
Directed by Stephen Surjik
Written by Mike Ostroski

United as a family, Geralt and Yennefer stay one step ahead of the monsters, mages and
monarchs that seek to take Ciri for their own reward.  But when their cover is blown, the only
option is to split. Yen must return to Aretuza with Ciri whilst Geralt hunts down their tormentor
and the powerful mage they believe is behind him.

Episode 2: “Unbound” 
Directed by Stephen Surjik
Written by  Tania Lotia

Yennefer reveals her wretched past hoping to inspire Ciri to embrace the chaos she possesses
inside. Meanwhile, Geralt’s journey leads to a remote castle in far Western Redania where he
makes a grisly discovery. The dark truth about the mage he seeks is as disturbing as it is
macabre.  

Episode 3: “Reunion” 
Directed by Gandja Monteiro
Written by  Haily Hall
Grave reservations aside, Tissaia de Vries agrees to take the Lion Cub of Cintra under her wing
and assumes responsibility for Ciri’s magical training. Yennefer must work hard to shed her
reputation as traitor to The Brotherhood and plans her return to the very heart of politics at
Aretuza.

Episode 4: “The Invitation” 

Directed by Gandja Monteiro
Written by  Rae Benjamin

With invitations to Yennefer’s glamorous ball circulating the Continent, Triss and Istredd
discover a link between the disappearance of half-blood novices and the missing ancient Book
of Monoliths.  Geralt returns to Aretuza with news of his gruesome discovery and firm belief -
the mage they seek is hiding in plain sight.

Episode 5:  “The Art of the Illusion” 

Directed by  Loni Peristere
Written by Clare Higgins

The Conclave of Mages commences in Aretuza’s Grand Courtyard with a heady mix of sexual
and political intrigue amongst its opulent guests.  Geralt and Yennefer work together to
ensnare and expose their prime suspect to the Brotherhood but soon realise they may have the
wrong man.
 
Episode 6:  “Everybody Has a Plan ‘til They Get Punched in the Face” 
Directed by  Loni Peristere
Written by  Javier Grillo-Marxuach

Tissaia’s world collapses when her closest ally and confident proves traitor, and he opens the
gates to Aretuza in the name of The White Flame.  As Elven warriors rush through in a sea of
destruction, Tissaia conjures the spell of last resorts, summoning The Thunder of Alzur.

Episode 7: “Out of the Fire, Into the Frying Pan” 

Directed by  Bola Ogun
Written by  Matthew D'Ambrosio

Escaping the chaos of Aretuza, Ciri transports herself to the Korath Desert.  All alone and with
no food or water, her mind starts to play tricks as the searing heat burns into her soul.  Making
friends and battling monsters, were they real or imagined, a new version of Ciri emerges.

Episode 8:  “Death of the Witcher” 

Directed by  Bola Ogun
Written by  Troy Dangerfield and Mike Ostrowski
 Concerned for Ciri’s whereabouts and safety, Geralt’s mind is consumed with his mission when
he leaves the Dryads of Brokilon forest with comrades at his side, old and new.  Meanwhile,
relations between the Emhyr and Vilgefortz are put to the test and Ciri gets swept up by a new
family, a band of troubled misfits known only as The Rats.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
 
 GERALT OF RIVIA is played by Henry Cavill.  United with Yennefer and Ciri, Geralt’s
political neutrality is crushed as he resolves to fight, conquer, kill anyone or anything
that threatens to hurt the people he loves.  Geralt would sacrifice his life for this family,
and he may have to.

 YENNEFER OF VENEGERG is played by Anya Charlotra.  Yennefer vows to love and

protect Ciri as any parent would her own blood but she must first repair the relationship
with her own mother figure, Tissaia, back at the heart of Aretuza.

 CIRILLA OF CINTRA is played by Freya Allan.  Although now armed and Witcher trained,
Ciri’s extraordinary powers remain largely untapped.  As Geralt and Yen strive to protect
her, and the power players of the Continent close in, Ciri goes on a mysterious and
perilous voyage of self-discovery.  

 JASKIER is played by Joey Batey.  The famous bard is united with his family.  But Jaskier
is surreptitiously working with Redanian Intelligence to protect Ciri from the monsters
and devious mages of the Continent, by putting the princess back on the throne of Cintra
where she belongs - but at what cost.

 CAHIR is played by Eamon Farren.  Cahir’s ruthless ambition to return to the top
echelons of the Nilfgaard army, tests him to his limit as he strives to prove his allegiance
beyond any doubt.  In doing so, Cahir realizes he may have been fighting for the wrong
side all along.

 FRINGILLA is played by Mimî M Khayisa.  Disgraced and outcast, Fringilla escapes her
dimeritium shackles and finds a way back into Nilfgaard favour only to be dangerously
betrayed again by The White Flame 

 FRANCESCA is played by Mecia Simson.  Francesca is a mage and Queen of the Elves. 
Her belief that Ciri is the Hen Ikeir, the Elves much-awaited saviour from
Ithlinne’s Prophecy, brings her single-mindedness to find the girl at any devastating cost,
and the cost is high.

 PHILIPPA EILHART is played by Cassie Clare.  Equal parts charming and conniving,
Philippa is a primary advisor to Redania's King Vizimir. Her ability to figuratively, and
 literally, shapeshift through courts and parties alike makes her one of the most
influential sorceresses within the Continent's politics.  

 DIJKSTRA is played by Graham McTavish.  As head of the Redanian Intelligence secret

service, double crossers and ne'er do wells from all over the Continent know Sigismund
Dijkstra's name when whispered. His impressive style and physical strength are second
only to his knowledge of kings and mages and how to get exactly what he wants. 

 GALLATIN is played by Robbie Amell.  A born fighter, Gallatin leads an army of guerrilla
Scoia’tael fighting on behalf of Nilfgaard. Unafraid to speak his truth, Gallatin’s loyalty to
his people ultimately leads him on a collision course with Francesca over power.

 MILVA is played by Meng’er Zhang.  A human adopted by the dryads of Brokilon Forest,
Milva is a fierce and talented huntress. Exact archery skills coupled with a stone-cold
aptitude for survival make her a formidable adversary in the unforgiving Continent -
those that cross her, do so at their peril.

 PRINCE RADOVID is played by Hugh Skinner.  Royal playboy and younger brother to
King Vizimir, Radovid finds himself suddenly a man on the inside of the Redanian
Intelligence. With his good looks and often drunken charm, Radovid surprises with how
incisive he can be in matters of politics, but it's all games until someone gets hurt. 

 MISTLE is played by Christelle Elwin.  Mistle is a member of The Rats, a gang of misfit
teenagers who steal from the rich and give to themselves - and sometimes the poor. She
is street hard, suspicious of everyone and out for revenge, until a chance meeting that
will change everything.

THE MONSTERS OF THE CONTINENT

The JACKAPACE is a ferocious hunting machine that tracks his a target by following its scent. 
Shaped like a giant woodlouse with a large, hyper sensitive proboscis, we meet Jackapace in Ep.
301 when it crashes through the Belleteyn Festival on a mission to find Ciri. A rolling ball of
reptilian armour, the Jackapace goes wild at the smell of its unsuspecting prey.

The HEADLESS monster is grotesque and disturbing, the result of immeasurable pain and
suffering.  This creature is an amalgamation of the bodies of lost girls who were snatched from
their beds and lost their heads in the dungeons of Vuilpanne Castle.
The AESCHANA is a deadly sea monster that Geralt offers to kill in return for free crossing on
the chain ferry with Ciri.  Instead, the Aeshana is slayed by Ciri, her very first monster kill since
training hard to become a Witcher. The Aeschana is a gruesome looking beast, resembling an
overgrown lump of algae, lumpy, rough skinned and vast, measuring almost 4 meters long
when fully grown.  

The WYVERN in S3 is mistaken by its captor for a baby basilisk and paraded in the streets of
Gors Velen, only to be exposed by Ciri.  The Wyvern is a small but extremely dangerous, two
legged flying reptile with a long snake-like neck and scales. This creature swoops down to attack
its prey and comes armed with needle sharp teeth and long white fangs.

The SUNTRAP is deadly flower shaped creature camouflaged by the sand of the Korath Desert,
with multiple row upon row of razor sharp teeth and a gapping maw. 

Also found in the desert, the PITMONSTER is a cross between a giant scorpion and a huge rock
formation in appearance. It is a highly aggressive creature that lurks under cover of sand,
waiting to explode out and attack its prey.  The Pitmonster’s tail will puncture flesh, driving a
deadly venom deep into its prey.  

Unicorn or vision, LITTLE HORSE aka IHUARRAQUAX is not a monster.  Little Horse befriends
Ciri in the Korath Desert.  She saves his life when he is attacked and poisoned by the
Pitmonster.  In turn, he guides Ciri through what transpires to be a seminal moment in her
young, extraordinary life.

IN CONVERSATION WITH
ANDREW LAWS (HEAD OF FRANCHISE DESIGN)

What environments can audiences expect to see in The Witcher Season 3?

We are going to see much more of Aretuza.  We have always had sections and parts of it but we
spend a great deal of time there this season and we begin to explore some of the wider areas;
the central courtyard, Tissaia’s quarters, and the gallery of glory amongst them.  Aretuza and
Thanedd Island are environments we been to before but this time we are opening up so we
understand how it works both historically and geographically.  We have really started to build
on the idea of the Elven history of the Continent and have woven that into the architecture.  

How did your exploration of Elven architecture for The Witcher prequel, Blood Origin, inform
your choices in the set design for Season 3?
It was hugely impactful and Sharrawedd is a great example of a purely elven environment. 
Sharrawedd is a place our characters come upon on their journey.  It is an abandoned temple,
built on hallowed ground, an example of remnant elven architecture that hasn’t been touched
for many hundreds of years and is really beautiful in its decay.  It was a really interesting
creation for us because of the work we had done developing the elven world in the prequel
story, set 1500 years earlier.  It allowed us to take that world, give it time and break it down to
see it decomposing and falling apart in quite a lovely way. 

Tell us how you have approached the design of monsters in the latest instalment?
The creatures this season were incredibly fun.  One of the things we have explored as we get
further into the creature design is thinking about the movement language of these characters. 
Not just how they look visually in a static position but how they express themselves physically. 
When we delve into their quirks, eccentricities and how they react to certain events, like when
they are angry or excited, we create a more realistic animal.

Introduce us to a few of the new creatures we can look forward to seeing in Season 3?
We have the Jackapace, which is a four legged creature that can run, twist and move like any
other four legged creature but it also has the ability to curl up into an armoured shell and roll. 
It can very quickly move around corners and barrel thorough objects in that armoured shape
before exploding open, ready to attack.  The Jackapace also has an incredibly complicated nose,
its sense of smell is how it chases down its prey so we gave it quite a spectacular proboscis.

Perhaps the most gruesome creature is the flesh monster.  It was such a complex organism we
had to work in tandem with VFX and with the stunt team to create something that would work
on screen. It is a monster made up of lots of different body parts, almost like multiple
organisms combined together to make one whole.  Due to its complexity, when we filmed it, we
had to do so very loosely to give ourselves options to tweak in post-production.

We also have something we call the Pit Monster.  This a giant scorpion-like monster that hides
in the sand and explodes out to attack Ciri.  We wanted this creature to be able to bury and
camouflage itself in the sand but when it comes to life it needed to be absolutely terrifying and
have a scale to it so you understand immediately how much jeopardy our hero is in.  With this
creature we combined elements of the familiar with something completely alien to create a
unique monster for S3.

After the constrictions of Covid, in what way did being able to travel and shoot aboard
heighten the production value?
We felt a responsibility with Season 3 to open it up to the world almost immediately.  The
difficultly was that we were shooting in winter and we needed to explore locations that allowed
us to play 3-4 seasons all in one go, with 3-4 completely different looks.  We ended up in Italy,
Slovenia and Croatia, which gave us three very distinct environments for the opening episode
and gave us summer, autumn and winter.

We also filmed in Erfoud, Morocco, capturing part of a unique storyline for Ciri in which she is
stranded in the Korath Desert.  During the shoot, temperatures were between 40-50 degrees so
incredibly hot and, in many ways, it plays to how you see the characters – you can really feel
that heat and oppression on screen.  It’s a language we haven’t seen before on this show and
its very expansive and broadens our understanding of what the Continent is and the vastness of
it.