The Witcher: Blood Origin release updates, cast, synopsis, teaser and more

Netflix’s Witcher universe is growing in size and fans are eager to watch the highly-anticipated live-action prequel series The Witcher: Blood Origin. The series has been in the works for a while now and finally wrapped filming last year.

Although we still don’t have a firm release date, the following page will provide insight into all the details we have on the show, including the synopsis, cast info, directors, filming locations and much more.

Set more than one thousand years before Geralt of Rivia was born, The Witcher: Blood Origin will explore the early history of this vast and fantastical universe and how the first Witcher came to be.

While the parent series continues filming throughout this year, expect to find out more about The Witcher: Blood Origin and some of the other projects in development at Netflix within this beloved franchise soon.

Is The Witcher: Blood Origin done filming?

Yes, The Witcher: Blood Origin officially finished filming in November 2021 after a four-month shoot and then went into post-production. However, the show later needed reshoots. Earlier this year, the production underwent two weeks of reshoots before wrapping by the end of April. The show should now be back in post with the new footage.

The Witcher: Blood Origin filming locations

Filming for The Witcher: Blood Origins took place in some genuinely beautiful and idyllic locations, including Southern Ireland, Iceland and West Yorkshire in England (specifically Ilkley Moor and other areas). Filming also took place on location in several other areas throughout the UK.

The Witcher: Blood Origin release date predictions

We previously reported on a rumor that the prequel series would finally release in December 2022. Sources indicate that Netflix is eying a Christmas release for The Witcher: Blood Origin. That release date would make sense, since previous seasons of The Witcher came out in December.

We know The Witcher season 3 is not going to be completed in time for a 2022 release, but the prequel has been completed for a while now (although it might still be in post). As far as we know, Netflix does not have any other big releases planned for December yet, so The Witcher: Blood Origin could slot in perfectly.

How many episodes are in The Witcher: Blood Origin?

Netflix ordered six episodes for the show’s first season. That’s two episodes less than an average season of The Witcher, but remember, this is expected to be a limited series.

Who is directing The Witcher: Blood Origin?

Sarah O’Gorman, who worked on series like Netflix’s Cursed and The Last Kingdom, will direct three of the six episodes while Vicky Jewson (Close, Born of War) will direct the remaining three episodes. According to What to Watch, O’Gorman will direct episodes one, four and six, while Jewson will direct episodes two, three and five.

Redanian Intelligence also reports that The Witcher season 1 director Alex Garcia Lopez returned to helm the reshoots. Lopez directed season 1 episodes “Betrayer Moon” and “Of Banquets, Bastards and Burials.” One of those episodes was written by The Witcher: Blood Origin showrunner Declan de Barra, so it makes sense the two would collaborate once more.

Is Witcher: Blood Origin animated?

No, the prequel series is a live-action show. There are animated projects in The Witcher universe though, including Nightmare of the Wolf and a second animated film that is currently in the works and rumored to be titled Sirens of the Deep.

The Witcher: Blood Origin cast

The cast of The Witcher: Blood Origin is a very impressive one, featuring many notable actors such as Michelle Yeoh, in leading roles. Jodie Turner-Smith was previously cast as the leading lady Éile, but unfortunately had to exit the series.

Here is the full cast list:

• Michelle Yeoh as Scian
• Laurence O’Fuarain as Fjall
• Sophia Brown as Éile
• Jacob Collins-Levy as Eredin (yes, that Eredin)
• Dylan Moran as Uthrok One-Nut
• Lenny Henry as Balor
• Nathaniel Curtis as Brían
• Mirren Mack as Merwyn
• Francesca Mills as Meldof
• Lizzie Annis as Zacaré
• Huw Novelli as Callan
• Zach Wyatt as Syndril
• Amy Murray as Fenrik
• Claire Cooper as Aevenin

Will characters from The Witcher appear in the Witcher: Blood Origin?

Surprisingly, the answer to this question is yes! Even though it is set 1200 years before The Witcher, at least one popular character from the parent series will appear in the prequel. Joey Batey is set to have a minor role as the beloved bard Jaskier.

Redanian Intelligence reports that Jaskier will appear early on (probably the prologue) as he recalls the story while he’s in a tavern, which makes complete sense for his character and is a great way to connect the two stories.

Additionally, expect to see Cintra represented in the prequel, although it will be called Xin’trea, because at the time it would have still used the Elven spelling.

Eredin, an Aen Elle elf and eventual commander of the Wild Hunt, has also been cast in the prequel, although he is played by a different actor than the person who played him in season 2 (which was more of a cameo than anything). Redanian Intelligence also reports that Claire Cooper was cast as Aevenien.

In the books, Aevenien is the mother of the legendary elven seeress Ithlinne. Ithlinne is an important character in the books and she is played by Ann Firbank in The Witcher season 2. It’s interesting that her mother will be featured in Blood Origin and yet another connection between the two shows.

What is The Witcher: Blood Origin about?

As mentioned, The Witcher: Blood Origin is a prequel series set 1200 years before the events of The Witcher. Below you’ll find the official synopsis for the series, courtesy of Netflix.

"Every story has a beginning. Witness the untold history of the Continent with The Witcher: Blood Origin, a new prequel series set in an elven world 1200 years before the events of The Witcher. Blood Origin will tell a story lost to time – exploring the creation of the first prototype Witcher, and the events that lead to the pivotal “Conjunction of the Spheres,” when the worlds of monsters, men, and elves merged to become one. The Witcher: Blood Origin will release in 2022, only on Netflix."

How many seasons of The Witcher: Blood Origin will there be?

As of right now, the new show is being billed as a prequel miniseries, meaning only one season is planned. It looks like Netflix wants it to be a limited story told in one batch of episodes. However, if the show does extremely well and the writers feel they can tell more story, I’m sure Netflix would be open to continuing the show or creating another spin-off featuring the same characters.

Is The Witcher: Blood Origin based on a book?

Fans know that The Witcher series is based on the popular books by Andrzej Sapkowski. The books also inspired a beloved series of video games from CD Projekt Red, in addition to tons of other merchandise that includes comics, clothes and more.

While the prequel is not based on a specific book like the main show is, there is plenty of history in The Witcher canon that the writers can pull from to tell this story. The Witcher: Blood Origin will take place 1200 years before Geralt of Rivia came into existence and explore the creation of the first Witcher, something even the books kept mostly hidden in secrecy.

The Witcher: Blood Origin teaser

If you stuck around after the credits rolled on The Witcher season 2 then you would have been treated to a post-credits teaser for the live-action prequel series.

You can watch it right here:

The above footage is the official first teaser for the show, but we do not yet have the full-length trailer. If I had to guess, I would imagine that Netflix will release it during the upcoming 2022 Geeked Week.

Stay tuned to Netflix Life for all future updates on The Witcher: Blood Origin.