The Witcher quickly became one of the most popular new series on Netflix, in part because it’s based on a series of global bestselling novels and video games and in part (let’s be honest — a large part) because of star Henry Cavill’s smoldering good looks.
Can you watch The Witcher on HBO Max? As a Netflix original, The Witcher is only available on Netflix. As such, don’t expect to see the series on any other streaming service at any point, now or in the future.
The Witcher is a Netflix original series
The Witcher premiered on Netflix on December 20, 2019, with eight episodes in the show’s first season. Both the critical and audience response were positive, and Netflix ordered a second season before the first had even dropped.
The series is based on novels written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. Monster-hunting Geralt of Rivia and Princess Ciri have a connected destiny, but he doesn’t know that until they meet at the end of the first season.
While the novels have a large following of fans, it’s the video games inspired by the books that really captured the imaginations of people worldwide. The Witcher games debuted in 2007 and the series quickly gained a cult following, so by the time the new Netflix series was announced there was already a huge fanbase in place.
Like Game of Thrones, The Witcher is set in a world that is steeped in mythology and history. As worldbuilding goes, Sapkowski rivals George R.R. Martin, and Netflix is hoping that the series develops the kind of cult following HBO enjoyed with their wildly successful fantasy. There is an animated prequel, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, coming August 23, 2021.
Production has already wrapped on The Witcher season 2, which will arrive on Netflix on December 17, 2021.
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