Though the future is never guaranteed, it does appear that Netflix is banking on the upcoming series “The Witcher” to be one of the crown jewels of its streaming platform. With a major star like Henry Cavill in the starring role, a budget that is sure to rival blockbuster films, and a series based on hugely popular novels and video games, “The Witcher” has all the makings of the next must-see event series for the streaming service. And the confidence has apparently already affected how the series’ showrunner, Lauren Hissrich, is planning for the future.
Speaking in a recent interview, Hissrich explained that her plans for “The Witcher” go far beyond the upcoming first season.
READ MORE: ‘The Witcher’ Trailer: Henry Cavill Ditches The Superhero Cape To Chase Monsters
“I’ve [mapped out stories] for seven seasons,” Hissrich said to SFX Magazine (via PCGamesN). “Right now it’s just about, ‘how do you set up stories that really capture audiences for years at a time?’”
She added, “The worst thing we could do is put all of our energies just into season one, and not be thinking about where these characters can grow to.”
For those not familiar with “The Witcher,” the series is based on the novels (which have already been adapted into a series of incredibly popular and acclaimed video games) by author Andrzej Sapkowski. The story focuses on Geralt of Rivia (Cavill), a mysterious monster hunter that is joined by a powerful sorceress and a young princess, who must travel the world and survive.
All told, there are eight novels that continue the story of “The Witcher,” so Hissrich has plenty of source materials to mine for plots for seven seasons. However, as we’ve seen recently with Netflix, the streaming service is not scared of flat-out canceling series if they don’t turn into big hits. So, even if she has seven seasons mapped out, there’s still the likelihood that those plans will have to change eventually.
Season 1 of “The Witcher” is expected to arrive on December 20.