After conquering the video game world Andrzej Sapkowski's 'The Witcher' has now has its sites on the small screen. Netflix is now developing and producing a new English language drama series based on the globally popular fantasy saga. Sapkowski’s eight novels and story collections center on "witchers" -- hunters who develop supernatural abilities at a young age to battle deadly monsters.
The New York Times bestselling books have spawned a major video game franchise and have been translated into over 20 languages. “Andrzej Sapkowski has created a rich and memorable world, at once magical and familiar,” said Erik Barmack, Netflix Vice President, international series. “We couldn’t be more excited about bringing Netflix members around the world.”
“I’m thrilled that Netflix will be doing an adaptation of my stories, staying true to the source material and the themes that I have spent over thirty years writing,” said Sapkowski. “I’m excited about our efforts together, as well as the team assembled to shepherd these characters to life. Andrzej Sapkowski will serve as a creative consultant on the series.
Sean Daniel (The Mummy franchise, Ben-Hur, The Expanse) and Jason Brown (The Expanse), partners at the Sean Daniel Company are executive producers, along with Tomek Baginski (Oscar nominated short The Cathedral, BAFTA winning The Fallen Art, Ambition) and Jarek Sawko (The Fallen Art, Another Day of Life) from Platige Image, the Polish production and visual effects company. Bagiński will also direct at least one episode of each season.
“The Witcher stories follow an unconventional family that comes together to fight for truth in a dangerous world,” said Sean Daniel and Jason Brown. “The characters are original, funny and constantly surprising and we can’t wait to bring them to life at Netflix, the perfect home for innovative storytelling.” Added Platige Image’s Tomek Baginski and Jarek Sawko: "There is a moral and intellectual depth in these books which goes beyond genre. It is a story about today and today’s challenges, hidden under a fantasy cover. It is a story about us, about the monster and the hero inside all of our hearts.”
