There's No Way for Netflix's The Witcher to Adapt Major Yennefer Plot

Summary

• Henry Cavill has left Netflix's The Witcher, allegedly due to creative differences with the producers.
• Yennefer is a central and very popular character on the show.
• Season 4 will fail without her.

Books and television are fundamentally different media. As a result, problems inevitably arise when a studio adapts a novel into a TV series. Some elements of the source material will always get omitted or altered. The real challenge is determining to what degree changes are acceptable.

Netflix's adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski's series of novels, The Witcher, illustrates this point. Debuting in 2019, the series has run for three seasons, chronicling the adventures of the titular character, played by Henry Cavill. However, the lead actor left the show after the third season, purportedly due to creative differences with the showrunners. He was reportedly dissatisfied with the number of creative liberties they took with the original books. Now, the writers are faced with the task of adjusting the storyline to prevent the show from losing viewers.

Yennefer's Major Plotline

It's been three months since the release of the second half of The Witcher's third season, yet fans remain abuzz about what season four may have in store. Given that the Netflix series has covered more than three of Sapkowski's books, fans anticipate significant plot shifts for Yennefer.

In the original story, Yennefer is captured by Vilgefortz and remains imprisoned in his castle for the next four books, suggesting she might be absent for the subsequent two or three seasons. However, Yennefer, alongside Geralt and Ciri, has been central to The Witcher's narrative since its inception. The show just can’t afford to lose her now.

Other Complications

There are additional reasons why The Witcher might deviate from Yennefer's original arc. First and foremost among them is that the sorceress is a fan favorite who has captured the attention and loyalty of many viewers.

Furthermore, with Henry Cavill leaving the series and Chris Hemsworth stepping into the role, The Witcher faces potential waning interest from fans, many of whom can't imagine the series without the former lead. Excluding another cherished character might further jeopardize the show's future.

Given these considerations, it's highly likely that in season 4 of The Witcher, Anya Chalotra will continue to feature prominently as Yennefer, albeit with significant narrative adjustments put in place to keep her around.