Potential spoilers apply to The Witcher: Origin of Blood.
The Witcher: Origin of Blood star Minnie Driver has hinted that she will not appear in Season 3 of Netflix’s The Witcher series.
Speaking exclusively to TechRadar on the spin-off show’s UK channel, Driver tried to dismiss reports that her character – Seanchaí – would be making the jump to the main series starting with season 3 of The Witcher.
In Blood Origin, Driver’s Seanchaí is a shapeshifting storyteller who can traverse time and space. These abilities allow the mysterious chronicler to travel to different worlds and time periods, telling long-forgotten stories to specific people along the way. In doing so, Seanchaí has the power to steer different worlds (and their races) into a different path – one that will hopefully lead to a better future for all.
Given Seanchaí’s ability to travel through time, fans of Netflix’s The Witcher series believe it’s only a matter of time before Driver’s character appears in the main series. After all, Seanchaí interacts with fan favorite Dandelion (Joey Batey) in Blood Origin, so the spin-off series set a precedent for her bumping into other Witcher characters.
However, when we asked Driver if she could confirm if she would appear in The Witcher season three, the Oscar nominee was understandably cautious about what she might say.
“No – I mean, I would!” Driver responded when asked if she could say if she was in season 3. “There is so much mystery around the show, just because the creators want to give fans the best possible viewing experience. I was not involved in these discussions.”
Welcome to our clan, Minnie Driver! We can’t wait to see you on the continent. pic.twitter.com/9yVSeuT2i8September 24, 2022
It is natural to assume that Driver’s answer is PR-speak. As she said, given the secrecy surrounding the Netflix series The Witcher, it would be unfair for one of the best fans of Netflix series to confirm her commitment at this stage. Still, filming for The Witcher’s third season is over – the show’s third season is due out in Q2 2023 – so Driver knows if her character is part of the proceedings, even if she and Netflix don’t want to divulge it just yet.
While she couldn’t answer the question directly, Driver revealed that she would be open to reprising the role of Seanchaí in another season of The Witcher or even in her own spin-off project. If Seanchaí is starring in Netflix’s own production, there’s one particular Witcher character that Driver would also like to interact with.
“Just hanging out with Geralt would be fun,” revealed Driver. “But yeah, I love this world and this character. I love the fact that he can get into some really dangerous situations, move around this landscape and then change shape.
“I think the idea of being a storyteller is so deep and magical, so I’d really like to see her approach other characters and help them with their stories in this world. But we have to see what happens.”
If Driver’s Seanchaí doesn’t appear in The Witcher Season 3, he won’t be interacting with Henry Cavill’s hugely popular depiction of Geralt of Rivia. Cavill leaves the hit Netflix series after Season 3 premieres, and Liam Hemsworth takes over the mantle of Geralt in The Witcher Season 4 and beyond.
Fans reacted angrily to the news, going so far as to start a Change.org petition (opens in a new tab) for Netflix to fire the show’s writers and retain Cavill’s services instead. Responding to Cavill’s departure, The Witcher showrunner Lauren Hissrich exclusively told TechRadar that she “fully understands” fans’ concerns about Cavill’s departure, but hopes fans will stay around to see where the live-action series goes.
While we wait for Blood Origin and The Witcher season 3 to arrive – Blood Origin will be released on Netflix on December 25 – check out how to read The Witcher books in order. Alternatively, check out The Witcher 4, the next entry in Andrzej Sapkowski’s video game adaptation of the fantasy novel series by CD Projekt RED.