The Witcher is an exceptional show which is beloved by fans ever since it aired. An adaption of a book series and video game series of the same name, this show has intricate lore with beautiful world-building and complex characters. It stands out on its own with a unique setting and aesthetic. So it is needless to say that the fans of the books and games are quite passionate about the series. Henry Cavill, who starred as Gerald of Rivia, the Witcher, is adored by his fans due to his performance and ability to perfectly embody the protagonist.
After the news was released that Cavill would not be returning for a fourth season and his character would instead be played by The Hunger Games actor Liam Hemsworth, viewers were quite disappointed. Many so much so, that they refused to watch the show due to the absence of the Man of Steel actor. With the WGA writer’s strike, things only seem to be getting worse for the Netflix fantasy series.
What is the WGA Writers Strike?
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has been on strike as of May 2, 2023, against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), demanding a stable pay structure, higher pay, fairer contracts, and provisions about artificial intelligence. This strike has already affected the production of media all across Hollywood, from Spider-Man 4 to The Mandalorian Season 4. Now, Netflix’s The Witcher seems to have fallen prey to the same.
The strike has made it so, that no writing of any kind can be done during the duration of the strike. This includes new projects as well as projects already in production. The Witcher has plans to go into production soon and even has separate projects that are already in the works. These plans can however be completely derailed due to this strike.
Could WGA Writers Strike Derail Future Seasons of The Witcher?
The Witcher was initially supposed to spend the majority of 2023 writing the fourth and fifth seasons. With the fourth already written and the fifth outlined, things were looking great for the fantasy series. However, due to the strike, work cannot continue until this walkout is over. This means that the plans that Netflix had can be affected, though, only if the strike continues for an extended period, as the next season won’t start until the production has ended for The Rats, a prequel series to The Witcher, which has already been affected by the strike.
“Toss a Coin to Your Writer“; The Witcher writers on strike.
The Rats is currently in production in Cape Town, South Africa. The cast and crew are all at the location and under normal circumstances, production would have already started, but the strike has caused it to take alternative routes. Tomek Baginski, the executive producer of the show, has stated that if filming is to begin for the series, and it was to happen without a showrunner, he would step in to help instead. Everything entirely depends upon the current negotiations between the WGA and AMPTP.
Source: Redanian Intelligence
