The following article contains major spoilers for Andrzej Sapkowski's Time of Contempt, as well as potential spoilers for Season 3 of Netflix's The Witcher.
Filming is still underway for Season 3 of Netflix's The Witcher. While the streaming service itself has not yet provided audiences with any hints as to what they can expect to see, images from the set of the fantasy series have revealed at least one major plot point-- a pivotal battle from Andrzej Sapkowski's novels.
The Witcher-focused fan site Redanian Intelligence reported the Netflix series had filmed a duel between Geralt of Rivia, played by Henry Cavill, and Vilgefortz of Roggeveen, played by Mahesh Jadu. It resembles the fight depicted in Sapkowski's novel, Time of Contempt.
In the novel, Vilgefortz attempts to persuade Geralt to join his side in the conflict between the forces of Nilfgaard and the Northern Kingdoms, which, at that point, had caused a rift within the Brotherhood of Sorcerers. The ancient organization completely dissolved shortly after Vilgefortz and Geralt's meeting in what is known as the Thanedd Coup.
One of the reasons why the fight between Geralt and Vilgefortz is so significant is because, not only did it reveal a little more of each sect's motivations and allegiances, but it also presented readers with the first true defeat of Geralt of Rivia. The witcher vastly underestimated Vilgefortz's skill as a warrior and a mage and ended up badly injured. In fact, his thigh and elbow were essentially shattered, leaving him with lasting pains that hindered his movement, even after he was tended to by dryads.
Showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich assured audiences in 2020 that his injuries from the novels would be depicted in the Netflix series, where other adaptations -- including CD Projekt Red's video games -- left it out. When a fan explained the injury's importance, Hissrich explained, "I've read these books a dozen times, these specific sections, and I've not thought of it further than: 'Geralt has some pain, onto the next thing.'" She added, "I've been wrong. I'm excited to dig into this more. To add this layer to our hero."
Season 3 of The Witcher does not yet have a release date. Seasons 1 and 2 are available for streaming on Netflix.
Source: Twitter, via Redanian Intelligence