The third season of The Witcher wrapped up in 2023, closing the chapter on Henry Cavill‘s time as Geralt. Yet, there is a whole Pandora’s box of untold tales from Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels, hinting at the potential roadmap for season 4. While fans were playing detective with these narrative nuances, the makers have already rolled up their sleeves for the fifth and very likely the final season, proving that they are not letting the grass grow under their feet.

In a recent update, all the cards were laid on the table regarding the ongoing progress of The Witcher and its upcoming seasons following the third one.

How is The Witcher Season 5 shaping up?

Sophie Holland, the casting director for The Witcher, spilled the beans to Deadline last year, confirming the arrival of a fifth season. Originally, they planned to shoot season 5 right after season 4, but Hollywood strikes put a kink in that plan. After the strikes pulled its strings, the writing process resumed to wrap up season 4. Now, post-Christmas holidays, The Witcher team has finally embarked on scripting season 5, as per Redanian Intelligence. 

When the writers’ strikes hit in May 2023, season 5 already had a blueprint, and season 4 was largely scripted. So, the idea to shoot both seasons back-to-back still looks doable. Usually, each season takes about six months to write, and then they need some extra time to fine-tune the scripts. This would give the writers a big chunk of the year to finalize the season before rolling cameras. However, the major query among fans is- will the franchise end with the fifth season? 

Although there is no official word on whether the fifth will be the final season of The Witcher, many reports and compelling arguments are pointing in that direction.

Reasons abound as to why the creators should wrap up The Witcher with season 5

Back in 2019, The Witcher showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich shared a seven-season plan. Henry Cavill also expressed his absolute readiness to continue portraying Geralt for that duration with a commitment to telling compelling stories in line with Sapkowski’s vision. However, Cavill’s departure after just three seasons brought a significant loss to the franchise. This unexpected exit, coupled with industry strikes and a reported 30 percent dip in viewership, might contribute to the possibility of the show concluding earlier than expected.

Concluding The Witcher with season 5 would also mean that audiences will only experience two seasons, with Liam Hemsworth stepping into the role of Geralt of Rivia, taking over from Henry Cavill in the upcoming fourth season. And given the potential shift in fan sentiments following Cavill’s replacement, it could be a wise decision for the franchise to bring the show to a close by the fifth season.

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