Two highly anticipated fantasy TV series have just been renewed for a second season before the first one has even aired.
Netflix has renewed The Witcher for season 2 ahead of its December 20 premiere. Based on the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, the series stars Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, a genetically-enhanced monster-slayer who comes to play a pivotal role in the politics and power struggles of the fantasy world he inhabits.
Netflix announced the renewal on Twitter:
According to the books The Witcher carries his second season on Roach. Coming 2021. pic.twitter.com/48BChOOUE1
— NX (@NXOnNetflix) November 13, 2019
The news was released with an image of Geralt’s twin swords: one made of steel, for killing humans, and one made of silver, for killing magical creatures. The tongue-in-cheek tweet references that in Sapkowski’s novels Roach typically carries the silver sword, while Geralt wears the steel sword on his back.
On the back of The Witcher renewal, Deadline reported that Amazon has renewed its The Lord of the Rings series for a second season. The first season is currently in pre-production in New Zealand.
Amazon Studios Lord of the Rings deal included a multi-season commitment, but Deadline notes “each consecutive season after the first has to be formally greenlighted by the streaming network.”
In conjunction with the early renewal, the LOTR series will go on a 4-5-month hiatus after filming the first two episodes from Season 1, directed by J.A. Bayona. In that period, the writers room will reassemble to break the second season and write the bulk of the scripts
Set in Middle Earth, the TV series will explore new storylines preceding J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring. The lead cast, which is yet to be confirmed by Amazon, is believed to include Will Poulter, Markella Kavenagh and Joseph Mawle.
Are you happy The Witcher and Lord of the Rings have been renewed? Will you be watching either series?
