The Witcher has had a lot of surprising changes ahead of season 3. One of the most significant changes involves Freya Allan's Ciri; it comes straight from the books.
By now, The Witcher fans should have heard about Henry Cavill departing the series after the upcoming season. While devastating, this will also give room to move a key character into a leadership role. Allan has played Princess Cirilla since the show debuted but has been prominently in training mode. Season 2 showcased her attempt to master her magical Elder Blood lineage and her desire to endure the Witcher training. Now that Cavill is commencing his swan song, Ciri will reportedly be more of a central figure of the series.
As reported by Yahoo News, The Witcher producer Tomek Baginski noted the book's inspiration is full of potential. "Time of Contempt is a really good book, some people say it's the best book of the saga and it's very rich in the story.” He explained that Allan, in particular, was impressive in the material she dealt with. "So I think this was very exciting to do, but especially for Freya. This is also the book where Ciri – let's be blunt about this – becomes the main character of the saga, because this is how it was done in the books, and watching Ciri evolve, and watching Freya evolve as an actress in this season, was incredible, just incredible."
Making Ciri more integral to the plot makes sense for the story trajectory, reportedly inspired by Time of Contempt. The second book in Andrzej Sapkowski's The Witcher series focuses on Ciri struggling with her prophesied destiny. Previously, viewers have only received hints of the terrifying prophecy promising Ciri will usher in a new age. She has been a target because of her mysterious abilities and is uncertain how powerful she will become. The Witcher book readers know that Ciri will likely get a better understanding of her full potential when the third season airs.
This update may be a relief after the constant discourse surrounding The Witcher. After Cavill announced that season 3 would be his last, The Witcher creatives revealed that he would be recast with Liam Hemsworth in season 4. The news has been a divisive issue, adding to questions about how the series will handle a new Geralt of Rivia. Producers promise that the recasting will make sense within the series lore. But The Witcher hasn’t always been a hit with fans, and it may take some time to warm up to the idea of replacing an iconic portrayal.
Luckily for The Witcher, the rest of the cast will remain. Anya Chalotra remains in her captivating part as Yennefer, providing a foundation for post-season 3 despair. The producers' confidence in Allan's acting ability and putting her in a leading role is the best thing for the series. Even if fans petitioned to keep Cavill as the Witcher, Ciri is also primed to fill that role. She is becoming a Witcher in her own right and the most likely character to stay true to the legacy of Geralt.
The Witcher season 3, part 1, airs on Netflix on June 29, 2023.
Source: Yahoo News