Since there are still a few more months to go before the long-awaited second season of The Witcher drops, Netflix is sweetening the waiting period by releasing a prequel of the beloved fantasy drama set years in the past. The animated film, which was co-produced by the US and South Korea, focuses on Geralt’s mentor and father figure Vesemir and dives into his origin story.
The film was directed by
Kwang Il Han and its main cast includes actors
Theo James,
Lara Pulver,
Graham McTavish and
Mary McDonnell.
James is lending his voice to Vesemir who worked as a child servant for a rich family until he decided to run away to attend the Witcher school. Unlike many other children, he survived the extensive, ruthless training under Deglan, the leader of the witchers (voiced by
Graham McTavish), and eventually became a powerful monster slayer himself. Another significant character is the wise and kind noblewoman, Lady Zerbst, who is brought to life by the silky but powerful voice of Academy Nominee
Mary McDonnell. Her character is a valued adviser to the king and has a very unique connection to the community of the witchers. The fourth and final main character is Tetra, voiced by
Sherlock’s
Lara Pulver. She is a powerful sorceress who believes the witchers to be dangerous and is highly suspicious of their intentions. None of the characters are inherently good nor inherently evil. They are all flawed which is precisely what makes them interesting.
Just like the TV show, the film does not make it particularly easy for the audience to follow the plot. The storyline is complex and requires the viewers’ full attention. And even then one is likely to be left confused for the most part. Time jumps are so cleverly disguised that, at first glance, they are not recognizable as such. Several times during the film reality, dreams and hallucinations become indistinct. It is not always clear how and if things are connected. What keeps one watching is not necessarily the plot but the characters. Especially when it comes to Vesemir and Lady Zerbst's characters you will find yourself invested rather quickly. The two of them have a special connection which balances out the many violent scenes and provides the film with a little bit of heart.
Toward the end of the film, there are a few moments that very much remind of specific scenes of Sci-Fi Channel’s
Battlestar Galactica. A fact that is rather interesting as
Battlestar alum
Mary McDonnell is part of the film’s voice cast. Was this intentional or a coincidence?
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf drops on August 23rd exclusively on Netflix! If you are new to the franchise I’d recommend you do some research before pressing play as to not feel entirely lost while watching. The film, just like the show, is definitely not everybody’s cup of tea but it is sure to be a highlight for fans of this genre.
Thanks to Jon XVI for the heads up.
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