Eagerly anticipated by many, Netflix’s visually rich fantasy series The Witcher inches one step closer to its fourth season's production. Excitement began to stir among fans when scriptwriter Javier Grillo-Marxuach shared a tweet of himself wearing a wolf medallion—identical to the one sported by the monster hunter Geralt of Rivia in the series—and announced that the scriptwriting process for the new season is officially in session.
The production progress comes as a near miracle, considering the previous uncertainty due to a series of industrial actions from Hollywood unions that majorly impacted the entertainment industry. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) had embarked on a nearly five-month-long strike that began in May, putting significant productions into pause mode. However, this issue was happily resolved in late September, when an agreement was struck between the union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
Despite such pleasing progress on the writing end, another roadblock stands in the way of the actual filming process. The actors' union, SAG-AFTRA, entered an industrial action phase in July that currently shows no clear conclusion. Hollywood executives have abandoned negotiations concerning contentious issues, such as streaming revenue and artificial intelligence usage. As a result, the filming schedule for The Witcher Season 4 - originally slated to commence last month - has now been pushed further, with its beginning tentatively set for some point in 2024.
Adding to this complex situation is a major casting change. Opting to part ways with the series, Henry Cavill, the beloved actor who brought the lead role of Geralt to life for three seasons, will no longer wield the silver sword of the iconic monster hunter. In his place, Liam Hemsworth will step into Geralt’s boots. Unfortunately for fans, this indicates that Hemsworth's unique interpretation of the character is likely to remain unseen until perhaps 2025, based on Netflix's general timeline for the series.
The third season of The Witcher concluded filming in September 2022, and its first volume hit the screen grids in June – an expansive 14-month interval. With Hemsworth's advent potentially slated for 2025, fans might have a long waiting period ahead.
Nevertheless, even amid production delays and casting changes, Netflix's The Witcher is a beacon of tenacity striving to overcome industry unrest. Its writers are hurriedly penning spells, while also reshaping the Battle of the Monsters. As fans worldwide eagerly await Season 4, the pause might be an opportune time to delve into other dazzling TV spectacles set to grace the tubes all through 2023 and beyond.
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