‘The Witcher’ Confirms Season 5 Amid Mixed Reception of Season 4

Netflix has officially confirmed that the fantasy series, The Witcher, will return for a fifth season following the release of its fourth season on October 12, 2023. The new season introduces a different portrayal of Geralt of Rivia, as Liam Hemsworth takes over the lead role from Henry Cavill. This transition has sparked mixed reactions from the fanbase, further complicated by the show’s lukewarm critical reception.

While critics have rated Season 4 with a 58% score on Rotten Tomatoes, audience feedback has been even less favorable, with a mere 18% audience score. Despite this, there remains a keen interest in the series, which is based on the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski and heavily influenced by the popular video game franchise developed by CD Projekt RED.

Future of the Series

The announcement of the fifth season comes alongside news that Seasons 4 and 5 were filmed back-to-back. Hemsworth will reprise his role in the concluding season alongside returning cast members including Freya Allan as Ciri, Anya Chalotra as Yennefer, and Joey Batey as Jaskier. New characters introduced in Season 4 include Sharlto Copley as the bounty hunter Leo Bonhart and Laurence Fishburne as Regis, a mysterious barber-surgeon.

While the fifth season has indeed been completed, Netflix has not yet provided a release date, leaving fans eager for updates. The series will conclude with Season 5, which means viewers can expect no further exploration of this particular narrative unless a new spin-off series is developed. The decision to end the show has disappointed some fans, especially given the current low enthusiasm surrounding the series.

As of now, The Witcher has not achieved the top spot on Netflix’s Top 10 TV Shows list, currently ranking third behind romantic comedy Nobody Wants This and the reality show Selling Sunset.

What to Expect from Season 5

Netflix has indicated that both Seasons 4 and 5 will adapt the final novels from Sapkowski’s series, specifically Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow, and Lady of the Lake. However, significant changes have been made to the storyline, leading to uncertainty about how closely the upcoming season will align with the original material. For many fans, these alterations have been a source of disappointment, rivaling the controversy over the recasting of Geralt.

In a recent interview, showrunner Lauren Schmidt-Hissrich addressed the emotional journey of completing the series. She noted, “I expected to have this period of mourning, frankly… you’re not going to see these people that you see every day.” With Season 5 now in post-production, there is a strong possibility that it will premiere on Netflix sometime in 2026.

All eight episodes of The Witcher Season 4 are currently available for streaming on Netflix, along with a new prequel film titled The Rats: A Witcher Tale. As fans await further news, the anticipation for the series’ conclusion remains high, despite the challenges faced in recent seasons.