Netflix continues its string of excellent choices with a drama series based on The Witcher reports, IGN reports. The classic trilogy of video games, based on a series of short stories and novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, follow the adventures of Geralt of Rivia. Geralt is a veteran Witcher, part of an elite and often outcast society of monster hunters, whose arduous training kills as many candidates as it enhances with supernaturally strong senses and healing.

Geralt of Rivia has a gruff demeanour, a wry sense of humour and a heart that is basically a squishy marshmallow. Battling to survive, get paid and help people who often hate and fear him as much as the monsters he faces, Geralt is an endlessly compelling hero, sort of a cross between Ned Stark and Philip Marlowe. He’s aided in his quests by a variety of friends, including senior Witcher Vesemir, colleagues Lambert and Eskel and sorceresses such as Yennefer of Vengerberg with whom he has an endlessly complex not-quite romance.

The Witcher, in both its previous formats, is beloved for good reason. Sapkowski’s short stories cleverly build Geralt’s world before expanding out into full-length novels. Every development is earned and real, every story choice is complex and morally ambiguous. It’s not grimdark by any means but it is grim, and if you love Game of Thrones then you are going to love The Witcher. It’s great. Like Raymond Chandler novels with added werewolves and stabbing.

The video games are just as good. In fact, Witcher 3 is legitimately one of the best games ever made. A colossal, sprawling epic that’s built from hundreds of tiny stories it’s structurally playful, wears it’s heart on its sleeve and never once does what you’d expect it to. In other words, The Witcher is a classic and with Netflix’s pedigree, it is the perfect company to adapt it.  Especially as Sapkowski is on board as a consultant and Tomas Baginski (who directed the intro movies for all three games) will direct at least one episode a season. Producers include Jason Brown (The Expanse) and Platige Image, a Polish company and effects house.

This is a powerhouse creative team who look set to honour everything that makes Sapkowski’s stories great and we’re thrilled to see where they go with it. No wonder Geralt looks so relaxed.

Now, let’s hope Sean Bean’s free and fancies growing his hair out again…

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