Geralt of Rivia will soon be coming to the big screen, as work begins on a film adaptation of Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher series. A Witcher movie, which is nothing to do with Polish game maker CD Projekt Red, now has a global release date of 2017. It will both introduce the world of the Witcher and serve as the beginning of a series to continue in film and on TV.
The announcement came from Platige Image, which says it will be partnering with the The Sean Daniel Company to bring Geralt’s adventures on the wide screen. “The film will be an introduction to the Witcher’s world and is planned to be the beginning of a series,” Platige said in a press release. “Thania St. John, an experienced Hollywood scriptwriter, author of such television productions as ‘Grimm’, ‘Chicago Fire’ and ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, is working on the script as well as on its film and television continuation.”
According to EuroGamer.net, the film will be based on themes from the short stories The Witcher and Lesser Evil. The Witcher (1986) was the very first story written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski about the now famed white-haired mutant monster hunter. It follows Geralt as he takes on a contract to confront a monster raised from the double-coffin of a mother and daughter who died in childbirth several years before.
Platige said the Witcher film is meant for international distribution, so you won’t have to fly to Poland to watch it, and hopes to have it ready for release sometime in 2017. In a press release, producers said the movie will star Geralt of Rivia, but won’t be a straight adaptation of any of the novels or games. Directing the film is Tomasz Baginski, who earned an Oscar nomination for the 2002 animated film, The Cathedral. Hollywood veteran Thania St. John is writing the script for the untitled Witcher film.
The latest game, Wild Hunt, has sold more than 6 million copies from the series. No announcements regarding the film’s cast have been made. After seeing those spectacular graphics especially in a 4k gaming PC, we can’t wait to see Geralt, Ciri and the other characters from The Witcher come to life.