Is The Witcher season 4 cancelled? No, not yet. The popular series will not start its shooting process until 2024, and there’s news circulating about the season potentially being cancelled. Originally, The Witcher appeared to remain unaffected by the industry-wide pause in work.
This pause occurred when, in May 2023, the Writers Guild of America went on strike as a response to the production studios not providing them with the fair wages they asked for. This strike impacted several shows, like Daredevil: Born Again and The Penguin. Following them a few months later, SAG-AFTRA, a major actors’ union, also went on strike, something that hasn’t happened since the ’60s.
The last time the WGA and SAG-AFTRA had a concurrent strike was decades ago. The dispute over labor has brought most film and TV production to a standstill. The only ones that managed to slip past this problem were a handful of fantasy shows produced in the U.K., like House of the Dragon and The Witcher. These shows were able to carry on because their actors are members of Equity, the U.K.’s acting union, not SAG-AFTRA.
The Witcher season 4 might get cancelled with fan pressure
Because of this, fans of The Witcher were hopeful to soon see Liam Hemsworth step into the role of one of the mightiest Witchers, Geralt of Rivia. But according to recent news, it seems like we might have to wait a bit longer for the arrival of The Witcher season 4.
Redanian Intelligence, a leading source of news for The Witcher series, has reported that the production of the Netflix show, specifically for The Witcher season 4, has been postponed. The initial forecasts indicated that the filming for season 4 could start as early as September 2023. However, the recent updates suggest that the fans might have to wait until 2024 for filming to start, creating worries about the season being cancelled.
The exact reason for this delay in The Witcher’s production remains unknown, but it is widely believed to be tied to the ongoing strike. While actors from Equity can continue filming, creating a successful television season involves many other elements. Even after the scripts are submitted, the writers’ contributions may still be needed.
This could be for last-minute modifications to the dialogue or for ensuring the consistency of the story. Additionally, the strike by the actors adds to the challenges. Even though a majority of the actors from The Witcher are from the U.K., the new Geralt, known for his aversion to portals, is played by an Australian actor, Liam Hemsworth. Filming might be able to proceed without Hemsworth, but it’s tough to shoot a series without its main character.
Ever since the announcement that Henry would be leaving the show and Liam Hemsworth would take his place in season 4, there has been a section of the fan base that has expressed skepticism about the future of The Witcher.
https://twitter.com/JordanCanes/status/1685750378531627008
Nevertheless, following the finale of season 3, several opinions are emerging in support of concluding the series earlier than expected, suggesting a possible cancellation of The Witcher season 4.
I thought that I was a fan of the Witcher but @netflix are you going to cancel the Witcher series because it’s not doing that good season one was better than season three Henry Cavill I wish he stayed on as the Witcher
— Stephen mike (@Stephenmike27) July 28, 2023
The replacement of the lead actor came at a challenging time for The Witcher. Henry Cavill, who gave his all to playing Geralt, is not just an actor but also a devoted fan of the games and the books. He has always pushed for the show to stay faithful to the original material.
The reasons behind his decision to step away before his contract ended remain unknown to fans, but it appears to be a significant setback for the series. Changing the lead actor is a considerable move, and the show has always faced its share of criticism.
Complaints about confusing timelines and allegations about The Witcher’s writers mocking the original material have been rife. Considering these issues, it’s uncertain whether audiences will continue to engage with the series after the ongoing creative strike ends.
Featured image credit: Kerem Gülen/Midjourney
