Despite a sometimes confusing first season, The Witcher TV show was embraced by fans when it launched in 2019. While season 2 was a little more conventional, it received positive reviews, and the franchise's future looked bright.
However, we've since seen the Netflix series become surrounded by claims that those working on the series have been disrespectful towards Andrzej Sapkowski's novels and the hit video games based on them. Spin-off series The Witcher: Blood Origin was a flop when it launched last December, and Henry Cavill is leaving the main show after the upcoming third season.
Liam Hemsworth will step in to replace him in season 4, but are the show's days numbered?
Redanian Intelligence (via SFFGazette.com) has followed up on their report from last September in which they claimed Netflix is going to shoot seasons 4 and 5 back-to-back. Even though sources tell them that those "are still very much the plan," the latter is now said to be "very much up in the air."
The site adds notes that "the likelihood of Netflix wanting The Witcher to end with Season 5 seems high" and it now doesn't seem outside the realm of possibility that Hemsworth will only get the chance to play Geralt of Rivia for a single season.
The Witcher is a major investment for Netflix, and with all streaming services looking to curb spending, it wouldn't be surprising for the plug to be pulled on the show. There was a time when it could have been one of the streamer's biggest properties, but interest has definitely lessened, something not helped by big gaps between seasons and Cavill's shock departure.
Season 3 is set to be released sometime this summer, and another spin-off - revolving around the Rats - is also thought to still be in pre-production.
Are you hoping The Witcher will continue on Netflix or could now be the right time to scrap the series?