The Witcher: Lauren Schmidt Hissrich says the show could run 7 seasons on Netflix
By Bryce Olin
The Witcher starring Henry Cavill could run for seven seasons on Netflix if fans are interested and the story is there to build upon.
The plans are in place for a long run on Netflix for The Witcher. In an interview with Cinema Blend, Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, the showrunner of the new Netflix original series, said she could write seven seasons of the hit series earlier this fall.
Hissrich clarified the previous answer and said she could write for “20 seasons.” Of course, that would be unprecedented for any show, but the point remains. Hissrich has big plans for The Witcher, and that’s great news!
The Witcher premieres on Friday, Dec. 20, 2019, and based on what we’ve seen and heard about the series so far, this show has the potential to be the biggest fantasy show since Game of Thrones.
If you read the social media comments from those who were at The Witcher screening and fan experience earlier this month, there are some believe the show is going to be even better than Game of Thrones.
Here is what Hissrich told Cinema Blend about the future of the series:
"“It’s funny, because I said in an interview that I could write seven seasons. I also said I’m sure later that day I could write twenty seasons if given the opportunity. I could keep writing the show for a very long time. As long as people are interested in it and as long the source material is there to organically build from.”"
That’s the perfect answer for The Witcher fans. It’s more proof Hissrich was the perfect person to bring The Continent and the characters and stories of Andrzej Sapkowski to life.
It’s very reassuring that Hissrich is thinking about the long game when it comes to this show. If the show gets an extended run and lasts for several seasons, things that we see in the first episode, in the first season, could be setting up things for the finale. That’s how great TV is made, and I have very high hopes for this show.
The kicker here is, obviously, Netflix. They control which shows get renewed for new seasons, and that’s an important thing to remember. Netflix rarely renews its shows past the fourth season. There are only a handful of shows that have lasted that long. Rumor has it that it’s because viewership declines over time for many shows and it’s hard for new viewers to catch up for shows that have four, five, and more seasons.
The Witcher might be a little bit different from those other shows, though. We’ve seen, very recently, how popular long-running fantasy shows can become. If there’s any show built to last seven seasons at Netflix, it’s probably The Witcher.
The show has a showrunner who is very interested in seeing this series last a long time. Along with that, the source material is there to adapt and build on, as Hissrich said. Those are the two most important factors in terms of story.
The next thing this show needs to guarantee a seven-season run at Netflix is fans. And, at this stage of the game, there seems to be plenty of people excited about this show.
At San Diego Comic-Con, The Witcher was featured in a Hall H panel. For a new show, that’s amazing. There’s already a built-in fanbase here, but these stories are not exactly household names yet. In that way, this show has enormous potential. I have a feeling it could be the biggest new Netflix show ever. People all over the world are tuning going to be tuning in. If the first season is good, this show is going to be introduced to millions. That’s the recipe for starting a show that can last for seven seasons.
The Witcher is already renewed for season 2 at Netflix. Production on the new season starts in early 2020, and the second season will likely be released on Netflix in 2021.
The first season premieres on Friday, Dec. 20! Spread the word about what’s sure to be a great Netflix original series!