Hear Me Out: Netflix Needed to Adapt ‘The Witcher’ Games, Not Books

Initially, The Witcher was planned as a seven-season epic. However, due to the showrunners' poor storytelling, it now faces a shorter run of only five seasons after losing its star Henry Cavill. Season 4, starring Liam Hemsworth as Geralt, wrapped filming in October of last year. But an official release date is still yet to be announced.

Today, however, I have a controversial yet exciting idea: what if they adapted the games instead of the books?

Video Game Adaptations: The New Golden Age of Television

We live in a world dominated by video game adaptations. Shows like The Last of Us and Fallout are pushing the boundaries of what the entertainment industry can offer. If any other game series deserves an adaptation, it's definitely The Witcher.

The Witcher games are based on the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski and continue the books' story. These games expand upon an already rich universe, deepening it and making it more accessible to modern audiences, which brings me to my next point.

‘The Witcher’ Games Are More Familiar to a Wider Audience

Although the books have a dedicated fan base, The Witcher video games, particularly The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, have reached millions of players worldwide. For many fans, the game's interpretation of characters like Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri has become the definitive version.

Speaking of The Witcher 3, even though I would love to see a live-action version of it, I also wouldn't want them to forget about the first two games, which are absolute gems as well.

‘The Witcher’ Games Can Provide More Creative Liberty

The games offer something that Netflix's current adaptation struggled with: creative freedom. Unlike strict rules for book adaptations, games have multiple endings and branching storylines.

While the main characters and plot should remain faithful to the original, there are many ways to shape Geralt's story. Plus, you can always deepen and expand the lore to help secure the believability of the choices made.

‘The Witcher's’ Visual Blueprint Is Already There

The games look absolutely stunning. CD Projekt RED created a gorgeous lived-in world that's basically begging to be adapted. The character designs, monsters and overall aesthetic have proven to work perfectly in a visual medium, so why not take advantage of it?

I honestly wouldn't mind if they did a whole adaptation of side quests and contracts in the different parts of the world just to see the scenery (and morally difficult choices, of course).

Current Netflix’s ‘The Witcher’ Will Never Adapt the Games

Netflix explicitly chose not to adapt the games, so, as we’re heading into season 4, it’s too late to jump on the opportunity.

“The answer [to why the show adapts the books] is very simple though and it's that the video games are based on the books. They are an adaptation of the books. For me it didn't make sense to make an adaptation of an adaptation of something,” showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich said during Netflix's Behind the Scenes podcast (via IGN).

When Will The Witcher Season 4 Premiere?

Liam Hemsworth will don Geralt’s armor in the second half of 2025. Currently, no exact release date is scheduled for The Witcher season 4.