The Witcher: Blood Origin is easily one of the most highly anticipated events on the 2022 TV schedule. The production, a prequel to the flagship show starring Henry Cavill (for now), is set to further expand the mythical world created by Andrzej Sapkowski. Fans have been chomping at the bit for details on the spinoff series and, weeks after the release of the teaser, the first official trailer has arrived. And not only does it show more of Michelle Yeoh’s Scian and her badass cohorts, but it also reveals that a character from the parent series is returning!
The trailer features its fair share of action, much of which is sure to delight fans, but what may excite them the most is the reveal that comes in the last few minutes. In the closing scene, Seanchai – played by the incomparable Minnie Driver, approaches none other than the lovable Jaskier, who is portrayed by the returning Joey Batey. Driver’s shapeshifting storyteller approaches the fan-favorite character with a proposition: she needs him to “sing a story back to life,” causing the bard to question whether he’s the right man for the job. It’s a quick exchange yet one that should generate plenty of buzz (and maybe even a few questions) amongst fans.
That surprise aside, the trailer also does a strong job of establishing the main players here, such as the Star Trek alum's aforementioned Scian, Sophia Brown’s Éile and Laurence O'Fuarain’s Fjall. Just like its small-screen counterpart, Blood Origin sports some seriously impressive fight choreography as well as some breathtaking shots. What’ll be particularly exciting to see are the interactions between the warriors who have assembled to take down the tyrannical empire that they’re subject to.
The spinoff takes place 1200 years before the events before the adventures of Henry Cavill’s Geralt begin and predominantly focuses on an Elven civilization. Most notably, the show will depict the conjunction of the spheres – the massive event that caused the worlds of elves, men and monsters to merge. All the while, it’ll also shed light on the creation of the original prototype Witcher. Franchise producer Lauren Schmidt has referred to the series as a “fun twist” on the established lore, and the footage fans have seen so far is enough to make one optimistic that that’ll indeed be the case.
The Blood Origin prequel has a lot in its favor. Among those elements are a solid premise that focuses on a ragtag group of heroes, a strong cast and now, a major piece of connective tissue to the OG show. Expectations are high, but I’m hopeful that the Michelle Yeoh-led offshoot is going to deliver the goods and set a high bar for other potential live-action Witcher spinoff series.
The Witcher: Blood Origin, which will be a four-part event, is set to premiere on December 25, so be sure you have a Netflix subscription if you want to check it out when it drops.
