Filming for Season 2 of Netflix's The Witcher was well underway through February and March before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forced production to shut down. After approximately three months, The Netflix series was given the green light to begin principal photography once again.
Redanian Intelligence has now confirmed that pre-production has begun. The show is currently scheduled to begin filming once again on August 17. Showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich confirmed several weeks ago via social media that she had returned to the United Kingdom -- where filming had been taking place -- in preparation. Several members of the crew have reportedly returned to work on several major set pieces that resumed construction in the past several weeks, including that of an as of yet unidentified town, which originally began construction in November 2019. It is uncertain precisely how many are working on the show at this time.
The shutdown came shortly after actor Kristofer Hivju was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19. The actor has since recovered. According to Hissrich, approximately two episodes had been filmed before the hiatus. Production was originally scheduled for completion in August. The new completion date is currently unknown and it is uncertain how this hiatus has impacted the Season 2 release date, though Hissrich has stated in the past that the 2021 release is being kept intentionally vague to accommodate for any delays. It has been speculated that the series will now air in summer 2021.
Production continues to take place at Arborfield Studios in Surrey. Since June, the United Kingdom has allowed filming for major films and shows to continue on the condition that strict health and safety regulations are implemented to limit the risk for new COVID-19 infections.
Details concerning the plot of Season 2 are scarce. Cast details suggest that it will adapt the events of Andrzej Sapkowski's Blood of Elves, which sees Geralt training Ciri at Kaer Morhen with the help of fellow witchers Eskel, Lambert, Coën and their mentor, Vesemir. Those witchers will be played by actors Thue Ersted Rasmussen, Paul Bullion, Yasen Atour and Kim Bodnia, respectively. Additionally, Hissrich has hinted that the upcoming season will expand on moments that the novels did not explore, such as Geralt and Ciri's time journeying together.
The Witcher Season 1 adapts Sapkowski's The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny. Taking place across several decades, it follows Geralt of Rivia, Yennefer of Vengerberg and princess Ciri as they traverse the Northern Realms of the Continent in the midst of a Nilfgaardian invasion from the south. All three eventually find that they are bound to one another by destiny.
The Witcher stars Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, Anya Chalotra as Yennefer of Vengerberg, Freya Allan as Ciri and Joey Batey as Jaskier. Season 1 is now available on Netflix.