AKTECHSTUDIO

Netflix Sex Education Web-Series

Sex Education Creator Won't Rule Out Spinoffs, Teases Further Interest In Moordale World

Laurie Nunn, creator of the hit Netflix series Sex Education, has teased the possibility of returning to the world of Moordale after season 4. First released in 2019, the British teen comedy features an ensemble cast led by Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, and Emma Mackey. Following the exploits of students at Moordale Secondary School as they come to terms with their emerging sexuality, the series has earned rave reviews over its previous three seasons. Netflix has previously revealed that season 4 will serve to wrap up the show following the departure of several key cast members.

While speaking with Netflix Tudum about Sex Education season 4, Nunn was asked whether the final season will be the last time audiences encounter Moordale and the characters that inhabit it. Revealing that while she intends to take a break following season 4’s release, Nunn did not rule out the potential of returning to the show’s fictional world via a spinoff series. Check out her comments below:

“I’m definitely taking a break and thinking about other things. But Moordale is a really rich world, and writing about teenagers is always a lot of fun. So, I think that there’s always potential for more to be explored in that world.”

Will Sex Education Season 4 Set Up A New Spinoff?

While Sex Education season 4 was not originally intended to be the final outing, the show’s creative team was faced with the possibility of season 5 moving forward without some of their most important characters. While work on season 4 already had to contend with the departures of Olivia (Simone Ashley), Lily (Tanya Reynolds), and Ola (Patricia Allison), the biggest blow came in the form of Gatwa and Mackey later following suit and announcing their own respective exits should Sex Education get renewed for season 5.

With Gatwa’s Eric and Mackey’s Maeve two of the show’s most beloved characters, it would have been hard to imagine season 5 moving forward without them. As such, the decision to wrap up Sex Education seems like the most sensible option, but it is possible that Nunn and her team may also take the opportunity to sow the seeds for a future spinoff. With Sex Education season 4 set to introduce a raft of new cast members, including Schitt's Creek star Dan Levy, it is possible Netflix may establish a whole new generation of characters capable of becoming the focus of their own show.

However, if Netflix does look toward creating a Sex Education spinoff, the one character who should remain is Anderson’s sex therapist Jean Milburn. With Butterfield’s Otis and his friends coming the to end of their own adolescent journeys, Anderson’s character would be the best option to potentially connect the old and new generations of characters. With the right cast and clever writing, there is no reason a potential Sex Education spinoff could not emulate the success of the original series.

Source: Netflix Tudum

August 11, 2023 •

Anime Netflix One-Piece Web-Series

Luffy's First Meeting With The Five Elders Shows The Straw Hats' True Power

Warning: Spoilers for One Piece chapter #1089

Luffy and his crew have finally come face to face with the leaders of One Piece's world, the Five Elders, and by instantly getting the better of them, the Straw Hats have proven how powerful and dangerous they are. The World Government has sent the largest fleet that any pirate has had to face to shut down Luffy's newly awakened Gear 5th powers and Dr.Vegapunk's research, but right when the Five Elders believed they had already won thanks to their spy on Egghead Island, it was revealed that they have been fooled by the formidable Straw Hat Pirates.

The last time the Straw Hats were shown in the manga, they had a lot of trouble to deal with. Vegapunk's nearly invincible Seraphim, the return of the Rob Lucci along with other World Government assassins, and the betrayal of Dr. Vegapunk's Satellite of Greed, York, all created a dire situation for Luffy and his crew. However, in chapter #1089 of One Piece, series creator Eiichiro Oda decided to show how far the Straw Hats have grown by showing them having already conquered York and even getting the upper hand on the Five Elders.

Luffy And The Straw Hats Finally Face The Five Elders

York was willing to betray and destroy all of Dr. Vegapunk to become a Celestial Dragon. Her plan almost worked with her gaining control of the mighty Seraphim on the island, but she underestimated the Straw Hats. It is notable that, even if it happens via Den Den Mushi (snail phone), this is the first meeting between Luffy's crew and the Five Elders, the group of Celestial Dragons who apparently run the One Piece world (but actually answer to Imu). Considering how powerful and untouchable the Five Elders are, the fact that not only their plans involving York have been foiled, but they have also been tricked into revealing the truth, is a humiliation they won't forget soon.

The fearsome reach and devastation the Five Elders are capable of were recently displayed with the erasure of the Lulusia Kingdom and the murder of Alabasta's King Cobra during the Reverie. It is significant, however, that Oda decided to skip showing how the Straw Hats beat the Seraphim and got control of the Labophase. This was likely meant to create a strong and effective contrast between the dire situations the Straw Hats were in and their cool, triumphant attitude in the final panel of the chapter, further reinforced by the use of an epic double-page spread, showing the Straw Hats in control of Egghead Island with Vegapunk safe while showing zero fear or worry.

Even Usopp And Nami Look Ready To Fight 30,000 Marines

This is a significant sign of the whole crew's newfound confidence and shows have far Luffy's crew has grown. With one hundred battleships surrounding Egghead Island, led by Elder Jay Garcia Saturn and Admiral Kizaru, the current arc was setting up the possibility of ending like Thriller Bark with the arrival of a powerful enemy that outclasses Luffy's crew as Kuma did back then. However, a lot of things have changed since then. Chapter #1089 of One Piece proves how much Luffy and the Straw Hats have grown by showing them confident and in complete control of the perilous situation they were left in, starting their inevitable clash against the Five Elders on the right foot.

The latest chapter of One Piece is available on the Shonen Jump App and from Viz Media.

August 09, 2023 •

Movies Netflix

Netflix Confirms Extraction 3 Starring Chris Hemsworth

Now that Extraction 2 is readily available for streaming as of June 16, Netflix is looking to the future of the Chris Hemsworth-led franchise.

According to Variety, Netflix confirmed at Tudum 2023, held on June 17, that Chris Hemsworth will return for Extraction 3. In the series, Hemsworth portrays Tyler Rake, a highly-skilled black ops mercenary. In the first movie, Tyler undertakes a mission to save the son of an Indian crime lord, a task that almost cost him his life. In the latest film, Extraction 2, Tyler recuperates from his previous assignment before choosing to embark on another daring mission, involving rescuing the family of a renowned Georgian gangster Zurab, portrayed by Tornike Gogrichiani. Sam Hargrave returns as director, and the main cast includes Golshifeh Farahani as Nik Khan and Adam Bessa as Yaz Khan. Some exciting casting additions to Extraction 2 include Idris Elba, who portrays the mysterious man who recruits Rake for the new mission and Olga Kurylenko, who is best known as the Bond girl Camille Montes in Daniel Craig's Quantum of Solace.

Hargrave, a former stuntman, made his directorial debut with the first Extraction, putting his expertise to good use for the stunts in Extraction 2. The director used the single-shot technique for a 21-minute action sequence in the highly-anticipated sequel. Hemsworth is a producer in the film along with Hargrave, Patrick Newall, Mike Larocca, Angela Russo-Otstot, Eric Gitter, Peter Schwerin, and the Russo Brothers, Joe and Anthony Russo. Some of the executive producers included Benjamin Grayson, Steven Scavelli, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.

The first Extraction drew inspiration from Ande Parks' graphic novel Ciudad, which was adapted by Parks and the Russo brothers. Joe Russo returned for Extraction 2 as the sole writer. Extraction, which premiered in April 2020, was an instant success, becoming the most-watched original film debut in Netflix's history. Within its first four weeks of release, the film was streamed in 99 million households, all but guaranteeing sequel treatment. Given the initial film's status, and Extraction 2's looking to follow the same success, it comes as no surprise that Netflix opted to greenlight a third installment in the franchise.

Extraction 2 garnered positive reviews from movie critics and is currently available to stream on Netflix.

June 19, 2023 •

The Witcher Season 3 Will Finally Start the Real Conflict of the Series

The Witcher is getting ready for its big summer premier of Season 3. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the new season, from Henry Cavill leaving the show to rumors and claims about the writer's room dislike of the source material. Yet, despite all that, the show seems to be gearing up to finally start the main conflict of the show. From the Scoia'tael to the escalation between the North and Nilfgard, it all begins with the Thanedd Coup, an event that Season 3 will be bringing to the screen.

Season 1 of The Witcher was fairly dedicated to the books and explored many of the stories from The Last Wish and The Sword of Destiny. These short stories helped set the stage for the story of Geralt and Ciri and introduced newcomers to the world of the Continent. The second season went almost completely off book, which upset a lot of fans. The Witcher Season 3 is promises to be a one-to-one adaptation of the books, which means that the Thanedd Coup will show the devastation of the mages and the beginning of Geralt's true story in the show.

The Witcher's Thanedd Coup Will Create War

Thanedd Island is a part of the Sorceress Academy of Aretuza, and it is during a conclave of sorceresses and mages that death strikes from the shadows. In the books, The Emperor of Nilfgard is furious after the losses he suffered at Sodden Hill against the Northern mages. He employs a secret agent within the inner circle of the mages to weaken them and draw them all into a trap. The agent tricks everyone into coming to Thanedd for a banquet and that is where the trap is set. At this meeting there was a mixture of Northern and Nilfgardian supporters.

Unknown to the Northern supporters, the Scoia'tael and Elven warriors were ready to ambush the Northerners and Geralt. When the Northerners attempted to arrest the Nilfgardian supporters, Francesca Findabair and her Scoia'tael launched their attacks while the Nilfgardian mages dropped the magical defenses of the tower and began their own attack. This Coup caused all confidence to be lost in Mages. They were no longer trusted in royal courts, and they were hunted in many kingdoms. The power shifted in the Continent and Nilfgard's hunt for Ciri became more important and more intense.

Geralt of Rivia Is in More Danger After the Thanedd Coup

Nilfgard wants Ciri, and they took Cintra in order to try and get at her. Geralt is the only person standing in the way of Nilfgard and Ciri. While he has the help of a few mages, he is ultimately her lone protector. Now that Nilfgard has broken the mages, their power grows stronger. The Elves are working for them, some mages, which allows them to spread their power and influence even farther. The main conflict of the show takes place between the mage that betrayed all other mages and the hunt for Ciri. Without the Thanedd Coup, Nilfgard wouldn't have been able to gain the upper hand in the Northern War.

The Thanedd Coup is one of the most pivotal events in the entire Witcher saga. It kicks off the creation of many alliances, and events that lead Geralt and Ciri down their paths. With Season 3 finally bringing this huge moment to the screen, it's entirely possible that the show is getting back on track. Yet, the opinion of many fans is that it may be too little to late as some consider The Witcher Season 3 to be the last without Cavill in the lead role.

The Witcher Season 3 Part 1 airs on June 29, 2023 on Netflix.

May 21, 2023 •

Netflix Sex Education Web-Series

Sex Education Season 4's Netflix Release Window Revealed

Sex Education season 4 now finally has a release window, thanks to a recent announcement from Netflix. First released on the streamer in 2019, Sex Education follows Otis (Asa Butterfield), a student at Moordale Secondary School, who teams up with Maeve (Emma Mackey) to create an underground sex therapy clinic for their fellow students. Season 3 of the hit show was released in September 2021, and, until now, news about season 4's release date has been hard to come by.

Now, in Netflix's virtual Upfront event (via Collider), the streamer reveals that Sex Education season 4 will release this fall. Unfortunately, the company doesn't reveal an exact date or specific month that audiences can expect the show to return.

Everything We Know About Sex Education Season 4

Although Sex Education season 4 is still a number of months away from hitting screens, details have already emerged about the upcoming batch of episodes. Judging from what's been shared so far, season 4 will represent a major creative shake-up for the series, with new writers now on board. One element of the show set to feature some big changes is its cast.

Several cast members have been confirmed to not return for Sex Education season 4, including Simone Ashley (Olivia), Patricia Allison (Ola), Tanya Reynolds (Lily), Rakhee Thakrar (Ms Sands). Stars Mackey and Ncuti Gatwa (Eric) have similarly confirmed that, if the show is renewed for season 5, they won't be returning. Season 4 is also adding a number of new actors, however, including Dan Levy, Jodie Turner-Smith, Thaddea Graham, Marie Reuther, Alexandra James, Anthony Lexa, Felix Mufti, and Iman Yahshua.

In addition to the Sex Education season 4 cast getting some updates, the show is also slated to feature a change in setting. With the shuttering of Moordale at the end of season 3, most of the characters will move to Cavendish Sixth Form College, which has been teased as being more progressive and technologically advanced. Maeve, however, is heading off to the U.S. to attend a well-regarded university. Many questions remain about Sex Education season 4, but, at the very least, audiences now have a better idea of when to expect the show to return.

Source: Netflix

May 18, 2023 •

Netflix Sex Education Web-Series

'Sex Education' Season 4 Sets Release Window at Netflix

Netflix's Sex Education is one step closer to returning to our screens. During the streamer's upfront presentation, they announced the beloved dramedy series will premiere its fourth season Fall of this year. A more specific month and day window is to be announced.

Season 4 ushers in several shake-ups for Sex Education -- both within the series and off-screen. As Season 3 ended, Moordale students learned that they will have to find schooling elsewhere. As such, Otis (Asa Butterfield), Eric (Ncuti Gatwa), and their classmates flock to Cavendish Sixth Form College, which is the polar opposite of Moordale. Meanwhile, Maeve (Emma Mackey) accepted an exciting opportunity in the States. At home, Otis and Jean (Gillian Anderson) adjust to life with a new baby in the family.

Beyond the screen, Season 4 has had major casting shifts, welcoming in a handful of new faces to the series and saying goodbye to familiar ones. Along with the previously mentioned names, returning cast includes Connor Swindells, Alistair Petrie, Kedar Williams-Stirling, George Robinson, Chinenye Ezeudu, Dua Saleh, Mimi Keene, and Samantha Spiro. Upcoming additions include Jodie Turner-Smith playing a character connected to Eric, Dan Levy as Maeve's American tutor Thomas Molloy, Thaddea Graham, Marie Reuther, Alexandra James, Anthony Lexa, Felix Mufti, and Imani Yahshua.

Before Season 4 went into production, a handful of cast members bid farewell to the show. Bridgerton star Simone Ashley, Tanya Reynolds, Patricia Allison, and Rakhee Thakrar all departed the series. Additionally, Gatwa revealed that Season 4 is the end of the line for Eric, while Mackey shared that she's also ready to let the series go.

What Else Is Heading to Netflix This Fall?

Sex Education Season 4 will be in good company, as Netflix unveiled its entire Fall slate. Other returning titles include Big Mouth Season 7, The Crown Season 6, Virgin River Season 5, Selling Sunset Season 7, and more. The streamer will also debut anticipated titles such as Mike Flanagan's The Fall of the House of Usher, All the Light We Cannot See, and a slew of original films.

Sex Education returns this Fall only on Netflix. Revisit the Season 3 bloopers below:

May 18, 2023 •

When Is the Demon Slayer Season 3 Netflix Release Date?

With the show being one of the most popular anime adaptations, it’s easy to see why everyone is keen to know what the Demon Slayer season 3 Netflix release date is. However, fans might have to wait for a while before binge-watching the latest adventures of Tanjiro Kamado on the popular streamer. Here’s what you need to know about Demon Slayer season 3’s journey to Netflix.

When to watch and stream Demon Slayer season 3 on Netflix

The Demon Slayer season 3 Netflix release date is anticipated for mid-2024.

The date seems reasonable when we look at Demon Slayer season 2 numbers. The last episode of the sophomore season premiered on February 13, 2022, and Netflix released the whole season on January 21, 2023, 342 days after the episode’s premiere. Producers haven’t announced yet when season 3 will end; thus it is challenging to predict a precise date. In fact, fans don’t even know how many episodes season 3 will feature.

Currently, Crunchyroll is simulcasting Demon Slayer season 3, which is approaching its seventh installment. Set to cover the Swordsmith Village arc, the third season of the appreciated series premiered with a 49-minute special on April 9, 2023. In addition to Netflix and Crunchyroll, fans can expect to watch season 3 on Hulu and FunimationNow.

Demon Slayer season 3 still employs Haruo Sotozaki and Akira Matsushima as director and character designer, respectively. Different Ufotable staff members are penning the anime produced by Hikaru Kondo.

Created by Koyoharu Gotouge, the Demon Slayer manga series ran from February 2016 to May 2020. The first anime adaptation dates to April 2019. In addition to the manga and anime series, Demon Slayer also counts two animated long-features, 2020’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train and 2023’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village. The story was also developed in a video game titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles.

May 17, 2023 •

Why Yennefer Lost Her Powers in The Witcher Season 2

Magic is a core element of The Witcher franchise, and when it was revealed in Season 2 of the Netflix series that Yennefer lost her power during the Battle of Sodden Hill, it was a devastating blow as fans wondered if she'd lost her magic forever. For a sorceress like Yennefer of Vengerberg, magic empowered her in ways she couldn't have imagined before Tissaia de Vries brought her to Aretuza. Her magic was chaotic, however, fueled by an overwhelming amount of emotion that Tissaia encouraged her to set aside. When she finally came into her power, Yennefer was nigh unstoppable.

She took the world by storm for centuries, taking whatever she wanted and making it her own, but in time she realized that wasn't enough. In order to achieve the power she craved, she made great sacrifices, including her womb and fertility. At the time, she didn't care about the cost, but as she moved through the epic life she designed for herself, she realized something important was still missing. Yennefer had never known real, unconditional love, and more than anything, she wanted a child. She wanted someone to love her with no strings attached. Destiny doesn't always answer in the way one might expect, but it had plans to give her a daughter that she nearly sacrificed to regain her lost power.

How Does Yennefer Lose Her Powers In The Witcher?

A key figure in the disastrous Battle at Sodden Hill, Yennefer's frustration and emotion grew as she watched her friends and colleagues suffer at the hands of Nilfgaardian forces led by former Aretuza alum and sorceress Fringilla Vigo. When it seemed all would be lost and their efforts would fail, Tissaia rescinded her advice to set her emotions aside and told Yennefer to give in to Chaos. Allowing Chaos to pour through her, she channeled one of the most forbidden elements of magic: fire.

In the end, fire magic may have won the Battle of Sodden of Hill for the Sorcerers, but Yennefer paid a heavy toll for giving in to Chaos. As fans discovered at the beginning of Season 2, Yennefer was not only captured by Fringilla, but she lost her magic as well. Because she believed magic was the only thing she could truly count on in life, she would go to disastrous lengths to get it back -- even making a deal with a dark entity to sacrifice a young girl.

When Fringilla's party was captured by elves, they were brought before elven sorceress Francesca Findabair. Together, the three sorceresses encountered a powerful demon known as Voleth Meir, the Deathless Mother, who presented herself differently to each woman. In exchange for their heart's desire, they would each have to do her bidding. The deal she struck with Yennefer promised the return of her power if she captured Ciri and delivered her to a black door outside Cintra. In the past, Yennefer had rarely thought about the consequences of her actions, so long as they served her desires, but her affection for Geralt and Ciri made her waver. Even if it meant never regaining her power, she changed her mind and stopped Ciri before she got too close to the door, but not without potentially damaging her relationship with Geralt forever.

When the party returned to Kaer Morhen, Yennefer followed, and it was a good thing she did. Ciri was possessed by Voleth Meir, and the demon went on a rampage that killed several witchers. Yennefer did everything she could to help during the fight, but without her magic, she felt useless. She offered her body to Voleth Meir to free Ciri, and after traveling through a portal to the demon's home, they released it. Voleth Meir joined the Wild Hunt, and upon returning to Kaer Morhen, Yennefer discovered her power had returned.

Does Yennefer Lose Her Powers In the Books?

Andrez Sapkowski's Witcher books tell a much different tale than the Netflix adaptation when it comes to Yennefer. During the Battle of Sodden Hill, she didn't lose her magic but was instead blinded by Fringilla Vigo. Her vision was restored later, but she suffered nightmares and anxiety about the incident for the rest of her days. Yennefer also didn't happen upon Geralt and Ciri by coincidence at the Temple of Melitele in the books but instead was (begrudgingly) invited by him to help Ciri learn to control her abilities after Triss Merigold's efforts at Kaer Morhen failed. Voleth Meir did not even appear in the books, but Yennefer would go on to prove herself to both Geralt and Ciri before all was said and done, becoming a mother figure to the girl and finally recognizing her destiny.

What Happens to Yennefer's Powers In the Game?

In CD Projekt Red's trilogy of Witcher games, Yennefer almost seems like an afterthought until the third game: The Wild Hunt. She is occasionally mentioned, but for most of the first two games, Geralt suffers from memory loss. In the second game, Assassins of Kings, there are brief vignettes of memory when he remembers the pair of them running with the Wild Hunt, but they aren't actually reunited until The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt. During the game, Yennefer's powers are at their peak, and there is no mention of her having lost them at all, which makes perfect sense considering the game was released more than three years before the Netflix series.

The Witcher Season 3 debuts Part 1 on Netflix on June 29, with the rest of the season debuting on July 27.

May 05, 2023 •

The Witcher Season 3 Trailer Response Hints Season 4 Is Impossible

The first teaser for The Witcher season 3 has been released, but the response to it might not be good news for the already announced season 4. The universe of The Witcher continues expanding over at Netflix, and after the failure of the prequel series The Witcher: Blood Origin, this universe is going back to its main series with its highly-awaited third season. The Witcher season 3 will introduce new and exciting characters and will hopefully answer the biggest questions left by season 2, but most importantly, it will be Henry Cavill’s final season as Geralt of Rivia, the title witcher.

After coming across a bunch of obstacles, The Witcher season 2 finally brought together Geralt, Ciri (Freya Allan), and Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) in its final episode, but as Ciri is now being hunted by half the Continent, they will have to stick together in season 3 in order to be safe. In addition to that, The Witcher season 2 revealed that The White Flame is Ciri’s supposedly dead father, so there’s a lot season 3 and season 4 have to cover, but after the reaction to the trailer, this season might be The Witcher’s last.

The Witcher Season 3's Trailer Response Highlights A Season 4 Problem

The first trailer for The Witcher season 3 doesn’t reveal much in terms of its plot but it does give the audience a good taste of the action and drama they can expect this season, as well as a look at old and new characters, most notably the Wild Hunt.

The big reveals made at the end of The Witcher season 2 add to the anticipation for season 3, but also the fact that this will be the last time the audience will see Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, and that could end up dictating the future of the series. The most common reactions to the trailer were all about season 3 being Cavill’s last, with many viewers stating they will stop watching the series when Cavill leaves, even though a fourth season is already confirmed and Cavill’s replacement has already been announced.

Liam Hemsworth has been cast as the new Geralt of Rivia, and reactions to this were mostly negative. The feeling continued now that the trailer for The Witcher season 3 is out, which isn’t good news for season 4 as the series is risking a big drop in popularity.

In addition to Cavill leaving after season 3, season 2 was heavily criticized for making too many changes to the source material and for how certain storylines were handled, particularly that of Yennefer,

so The Witcher doesn’t have the same popularity and success as it did with its first season, and Cavill’s departure and the response to season 3’s trailer are only bringing more trouble for season 4.

Why The Witcher Season 3 Might Be The Show's Final Season

Unfortunately, The Witcher season 4 already has too many things against it, which could lead to season 3 being the series’ last. As mentioned above, the many changes to the source material in season 2 drew a lot of criticism, the prequel series Blood Origin failed to expand this universe in an exciting way, leaving even more questions, and Cavill’s departure after season 3 has led to a lack of interest in season 4, no matter what season 3 sets up. It wouldn’t be surprising, then, if Netflix decides to cancel season 4 and The Witcher ends with season 3, so the series would have started and ended with Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, thus not having to deal with a drop in viewership and popularity that would only hurt the legacy of The Witcher.

April 28, 2023 •

Jenna Ortega Details Surprising Way She Changed Certain Wednesday Lines

Jenna Ortega candidly explains how she changed certain lines of dialogue while filming Wednesday. Released in November 2022 to immediate success, the Tim Burton-helmed show follows the misadventures of the iconically morose Addams Family daughter as she hones her mystical abilities at Nevermore Academy while uncovering who has been murdering her peers. Praised for her ability to both maintain the melancholy core of the beloved character and differentiating her take on the role from those of her predecessors, Ortega's apparent dedication to Wednesday has been met with acclaim.

While appearing on the podcast Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, Ortega explains how she fought to change certain Wednesday lines to make the show's dialogue more authentic to the character.

Opening up about her protectiveness over the largest role of her career to date, Ortega reveals that her passion led to occasional arguments with the show's writers regarding some of the scripted dialogue not reflecting Wednesday's rich internal life. Check out what she had to say below:

"I don't think I've ever had to put my foot down on a set in the way that I had to on Wednesday because it's so easy to fall into [the teen] category, especially with this type of show. Everything that she does, everything that I had to play did not make sense for her character at all. Her being in a love triangle made no sense. There was a line about this dress that she has to wear for a school dance and she says, 'Oh my god, I love it! I can't believe I said that. I literally hate myself.' And I had to go, 'No, there's no way.' There were times on that set where I even became unprofessional in a sense where I just started changing lines. The script supervisor thought I was going with something and then I would have to sit down with the writers and they'd be like, 'Wait, what happened to the scene?' And I would have to go through and explain why I couldn't do certain things. I grew very, very protective of her."

Why Jenna Ortega is The Perfect Wednesday

This is not the first time Ortega has detailed her dedication to the role of Wednesday. From maintaining a rigorous filming schedule to choreographing the now-viral dance from Wednesday episode 4, Ortega's commitment to making the beloved role her own has remained apparent and paid off. Despite contending with comparisons to prior fan-favorite portrayals of the character, the global success of Ortega's performance has proven that the young actor has made her own mark on the role.

While Ortega's Wednesday frequently pays homage to past versions of the character, the actor has positively contributed the ongoing legacy of The Addams Family by modernizing the role and giving it additional complexity. While the creative team behind Wednesday has given her a new look, including straight dark bangs, the emotional core beneath the character's frigid aura has also been updated. Wednesday sees the character work with a therapist to better her relationship with her mother and retire her penchant for torturing her brother in favor of helping her community by solving a series of murders.

The reception to Ortega's work on Wednesday has solidified her status as the perfect actor to produce a Gen-Z version of the character. After going on to break multiple Netflix records, Wednesday will return for season 2, leading to many theories spreading far and wide. Regardless of the plot of Wednesday season 2, one thing that is certain is that Ortega will continue to take ownership of the character, cementing her status as the perfect Wednesday Addams.

March 07, 2023 •

The Sandman Gets Surprising Season 2 Update: When Will It Release?

The success of Netflix's The Sandman led to a second season being greenlit, and now, a new promising update from one of its cast members emerged.

Although Netflix may have accidentally revealed the early Season 2 renewal of The Sandman, it didn't take long for the streaming service to confirm its status.

Still, the show's fate isn't surprising, especially after it received positive reviews from fans and critics.

The Sandman creator Neil Gaiman has been at the forefront of providing news about Season 2, with him revealing on Twitter that "the scripts have been written and the VFX department has been working on it" way before the announcement.

Now, another piece of exciting news has been revealed.

Netflix's The Sandman Receives Important Season 2 Update

In an appearance at Fan Expo San Francisco, The Sandman actor Mason Alexander Park, who plays Desire in the series, talked about the show's Season 2 and its expected filming date.

Park first revealed that Netflix has "not gone on record" about calling The Sandman's next installment Season 2 "on purpose:"

“Netflix has not gone on record as calling it a Season 2, on purpose. And so, I will, from now on and in the future, and possibly until the end of the universe not refer to it as Season 2 until we know what it is."

Park's comment about Netflix not referring to The Sandman's second run as Season 2 is surprising, potentially indicating that another limited series or spin-off is in the works that would still be connected to Neil Gaiman's universe.

The Witcher already did this with The Witcher: The Blood Origin, with Netflix expanding the show's mythology via a prequel.

Another possibility is that Park could be teasing that a movie is being developed.

The Netflix actor then teased that "there is more Sandman coming in a really cool way" while also confirming that the cast and crew will start shooting this summer:

When Will The Sandman Season 2 Premiere on Netflix?

The Sandman Season 1 has ten episodes, with the cast and crew filming from October 15, 2020, to August 2021.

This 10-month period was during the height of the pandemic when lockdowns and strict COVID restrictions were followed. It took a full year for the show's debut season to release, premiering on Netflix on August 5, 2022.

In comparison, The Witcher Season 2's cast and crew filmed from August 12, 2020, until April 2, 2021, which was also when strict COVID protocols were in place. The show's sophomore season then premiered on December 17, 2021.

The small gap between the filming wrap and the season premiere isn't surprising since The Witcher Season 2 only has eight episodes instead of The Sandman's ten.

Furthermore, The Witcher Season 3 also had five months of filming (April to September 2022) during a time when the COVID restrictions were lifted. This could hint that a shorter timeframe is possible for The Sandman Season 2.

That said, Mason Alexander Park's confirmation that filming for something The Sandman-related will begin this summer could hint that Season 2 could premiere sometime in 2024.

By narrowing it down, The Sandman Season 2 could be eyeing a fall or winter release date in 2024 if the cast and crew wrap filming late this year or in early 2024.

This release date window would be similar to the previous premieres of Squid Game, Stranger Things Season 2, Wednesday, and The Witcher Season 2.

Hopefully, a more concrete update will be released soon.

The Sandman Season 1 is streaming on Netflix.

January 17, 2023 •

Wednesday's Jenna Ortega Thanks Fans for Season 2 Renewal

Jenna Ortega, who stars as the title character in Netflix's Wednesday, thanked fans following the show's renewal for Season 2.

"Thanks to everyone who made this upcoming season possible," Ortega wrote on Twitter. "This has all been pretty surreal." Netflix officially renewed Wednesday for another season in January, which will see Ortega reprise the role of the titular Addams.

Thanks to everyone who made this upcoming season possible. This has all been pretty surreal https://t.co/cIeJLr9qwh
— Jenna Ortega (@jennaortega) January 6, 2023

The announcement for Wednesday Season 2 was made via a video narrated by Ortega's Wednesday Addams herself, thanking audiences for the response to the Addams Family spinoff series. The video even referenced the viral dance trend that was inspired by Ortega's iconic dance scene in Season 1, set to the remix of Lady Gaga's "Bloody Mary."

Wednesday Lands a Second Season on Netflix

"It’s been incredible to create a show that has connected with people across the world," said co-showrunners and series creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar in a statement about Season 2. "Thrilled to continue Wednesday’s tortuous journey into season two. We can’t wait to dive headfirst into another season and explore the kooky spooky world of Nevermore. Just need to make sure Wednesday hasn’t emptied the pool first."

Wednesday is a live-action supernatural mystery series directed by Tim Burton that follows the eponymous Wednesday through her years as a student at Nevermore Academy. Consisting of eight episodes, Wednesday sees the titular Addams as she attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, stop a monstrous killing spree terrorizing the local town of Jericho and solve a 25-year-old mystery.

Wednesday premiered on Netflix in November to generally positive reviews, with most fans and critics praising Ortega's performance. The series marked the second-biggest premiere in Netflix's history with over 6 billion minutes viewed in its first week on the platform, coming second to Season 4 of Stranger Things, which garnered 7.2 billion minutes in the same amount of time. Similarly, Wednesday recently smashed a Nielsen streaming record for the second time, earning over 5 billion minutes viewed in its second week of availability.

Prior to the show's official renewal, it was reported that an announcement for a second season would come early in 2023. Gough and Millar have also teased potential storylines should Season 2 receive the green light from Netflix. "The series is really about a girl who sees the world in black and white, and learning there are shades of gray," Gough said. "I think like any relationship or any friendship, it can get complicated by other factors. It's never going to be smooth sailing. And it's really her learning to navigate the ups and downs of friendship."

Season 1 of Wednesday is now streaming on Netflix. Season 2 does not yet have a release date.

Source: Twitter

January 08, 2023 •

Movies Netflix

Gamera Returns in a New Netflix Animated Project

Netflix has officially announced Gamera: Rebirth, the first film to star the classic Japanese monster since 2006.

Not much is known about the upcoming anime project, with the only official information being that the film will be animated and released globally on Netflix in 2023. Gamera first appeared in 1965's Gamera, the Giant Monster. The giant, fire-breathing, prehistoric turtle monster, who was mutated by exposure to nuclear weapons, was created by Daiei Film to compete with Toho's successful Godzilla franchise. Similar to Godzilla, Gamera has evolved from an aggressive and destructive kaiju into a protector, keeping humanity safe from extraterrestrial races and other giant monsters.

GAMERA IS BACK! The new work "Gamera Rebirth" is coming soon to Netflix. pic.twitter.com/g4CuWv4J4q
— Kaiju News Outlet (@KaijuNewsOutlet) November 17, 2022

Gamera has appeared in 12 films since 1965, with eight released during the Shōwa era and four released during the Heisei era. Following the release of the last Gamera film, 2006's Gamera the Brave, there were several failed reboot attempts. A new Gamera production was reported to be in development in March 2014, but nothing ever materialized after the announcement. At the 2015 New York Comic Con, Kadokawa Daiei Studio screened a full proof-of-concept Gamera film in honor of the franchise's 50th anniversary. Directed by Katsuhito Ishii, the CGI short featured a newly designed Gamera, a swarm of newly designed Gyaos and a new, unnamed monster. However, while fans were excited about seeing the proof-of-concept turned into a full-length feature, Kadokawa Daiei stated that the 50th anniversary film had always been intended as a short and nothing more.

Kaiju on Netflix

Gamera: Rebirth will be the latest animated kaiju film to come to Netflix. The streamer has previously released three computer-animated Godzilla films, beginning with Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters. The film, which was released worldwide on Netflix in 2018, follows a group of human refugees who attempt to recolonize Earth 20,000 years after the planet was taken over by Godzilla. Despite earning mixed reviews from critics, the film was followed by two sequels -- Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle and Godzilla: The Planet Eater.

Netflix will also be the exclusive streaming home of Skull Island, an upcoming anime-styled series that will follow shipwrecked characters as they try to escape from the titular monster-filled island. Skull Island will be set in Legendary Pictures' MonsterVerse, a multimedia franchise existing in a shared universe that features Godzilla, King Kong and other Toho monster characters. An Apple TV+ live-action series, Godzilla and the Titans, and a new theatrical blockbuster film, Godzilla and Kong, are also in the works.

Gamera: Rebirth will release globally on Netflix in 2023.

Source: Twitter

November 17, 2022 •

Morbius Movies Netflix

Morbius Flopped in Theaters, But It’s Finding Success in Streaming

One of the more interesting superhero movie releases of 2022 was Sony's Morbius. An entry in their still amorphous Sony Universe of Marvel Characters, the film was largely reviled by critics. That visibly cut it off at the knees when it came to the box office, but the movie seems to be sucking tons of blood elsewhere.

From video on demand to hitting big on Netflix, Morbius is doing way better than such a "flop" has any right. That brings to question just hated the movie was by actual audiences and whether time and memes have been more favorable to it. In the end, it seems that Sony's newest Marvel Legend may become a success after all.

It's Morbin' Time on Netflix and VOD

Since hitting the Netflix streaming platform, Morbius has consistently been one of its best-performing films in terms of views. It was consistently in the Top 10 of Netflix programming, ranking as the #2 film on the platform. Its consistent views saw it stave off all kinds of TV shows and movies, including The Crown, another program with actor Matt Smith.

Morbius had previously done well when it came to video-on-demand performance, in which consumers actually paid to download and watch it. That shows that, box office aside, film fans were willing and ready to pay and watch Morbius, with its Netflix performance not simply being because it's "free" on the platform. While this won't erase its disappointing box office haul, it could point to Morbius' reputation not remaining as bad as it was in April 2022.

Audiences Seem to Be Coming Around on Morbius

The critical score for Morbius on Rotten Tomatoes is a mere 15 percent, but its audience rating is much higher, currently sitting at 71 percent. The divergence between critical and audience reception is somewhat similar to fellow Sony movie, Venom. However, that wasn't savaged quite as much as Morbius and made a fortune more at the box office. Still, audiences don't seem to hate Morbius nearly as much as its reputation would suggest, with many now looking back and seeing the movie as tepid at worst. Sure, it isn't a great movie, but it's certainly better than many were led to believe.

Of course, this may all be tempered by said audiences not paying for a full-price ticket in a crowded theater to watch the film, making their experience better than those who saw Morbius when it first released. And it's just as unlikely that another re-release of the movie in theaters following Sony's embarrassing first attempt to cash in on memes would work, either. Unfortunately, Morbius is unlikely to make "Morbillion" dollars, but it seems that Netflix users are more than happy to experience the film at home.

September 22, 2022 •

The Witcher Is Using an Iconic Sandman Set for a Season 3 Scene

Reports from the set of Season 3 of Netflix's The Witcher suggest the show will bring the cast of the popular fantasy show to a location that featured prominently in the streaming service's recent hit show, The Sandman.

According to Redanian Intelligence, filming is currently taking place at Guildford Cathedral. Production will continue to take place there until Sept. 9. The scenes filmed there are intended for Episodes 7 or 8, which are being directed by Bola Ogun. The cathedral appeared in Netflix's The Sandman, dressed in CGI, as a part of Lucien's library. Filming for the Neil Gaiman project took place in 2021. It's currently uncertain which particular characters are involved in the scenes filmed in the cathedral and if those shots involve any of the show's central three protagonists.

Earlier this summer, filming for The Witcher was briefly interrupted after star Henry Cavill tested positive for COVID-19. Production continued without the star, though scenes featuring his character, Geralt of Rivia, was only able to proceed a couple of weeks later.

Season 3 of The Witcher is set to adapt the events and characters of Andrzej Sapkowski's Time of Contempt, though showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich previously explained there are elements from Blood of Elves and Sword of Destiny that will appear in the upcoming show. She explained, "We approximately do a book a season, but we also make sure that the stories from that book are best in that season of our television show. So sometimes we move those chess pieces around a little bit."

But the third season is not the only Witcher project Netflix is currently producing. In fact, the streaming service offered audiences a glimpse at what it is calling The World of The Witcher, through artwork featuring characters from the live-action series, as well as the anime spinoff, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf.

On top of another anime project, currently titled The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, Netflix is producing a second live-action show, The Witcher: Blood Origin-- a limited series exploring the Continent's distant past and the elves that once ruled the landscape. At Netflix's TUDUM event, Hissrich also announced a family-friendly Witcher project being developed alongside the main series' third season and the new anime film.

The Witcher Season 3 does not yet have a release date.

September 03, 2022 •

Neil Gaiman's Flawed Characters Make 'The Sandman' Relatable

Editor's note: The below contains spoilers for The Sandman.

Neil Gaiman has always liked to put a little nasty in with the nice. In fact, he has made a career out of character-driven, surrealistic storytelling, and it's one of the most prominent aspects of his writing style. So it comes as no surprise that the Netflix version of his immensely popular comic book series The Sandman has a collection of characters that have distinct flaws to go with their flair. It's his way of humanizing them and making them more relatable. They aren't Marvel superheroes. There's no Captain America or Thor in this bunch. His group of characters has shortcomings just like the rest of us. The British author's penchant for creating characters that reside within this realm of moral ambiguity is a device that he uses with great aplomb. And it is within this space that we most often find our shared traits. His proclivity for musings about our commonalities with an ethereal god-like Morpheus or the tragic, supremely defective mortal John Dee make his tales uniquely engaging.

Tom Sturridge (Irma Vep, Far from the Maddening Crowd) and his portrayal of the titular character, for instance, prove to be a tough nut to crack. There are obvious similarities between him and Mr. Wednesday from one of Gaiman's most popular books, American Gods. While it's clear that they both have overarching intentions that are benevolent and in the interest of protecting their mortal subjects, there are instances in almost every episode when you will find yourself asking, "Wait, this is our good guy? Is he even a good guy?" It's certainly understandable that after being caught by a spell cast by the bumbling, amateurish wizard Roderick Burgess (Charles Dance) and imprisoned in a glass case for 105 years, the mercurial dream king might be just a little ticked-off and hell-bent on reclaiming his seat as the King of Dreams. However, his brooding and quiet intensity isn't terribly endearing as a main character.

Demeaning and disrespectful exchanges with his ever-loyal assistant Lucienne (Vivienne Acheampong) who dutifully held down the dream realm during his stead in captivity make it hard to get your Morpheus pom-poms out and may remind some of us of our own bosses in real life whose unwarranted hubris and ire can make our daily lives hell. And the repeated narcissistic, petulant phraseology of, "Not even I can do that!" doesn't fill you with the warm fuzzies for our anti-hero. So you mean there are things that you can't do? Now you're starting to remind us of that kid in high school that couldn't figure out why nobody wanted to hang with them. Even Morpheus knows that he can rub gods and mortals alike the wrong way when he grants a man the gift of immortality with whom he meets every 1000 years. It later becomes evident that he granted this wish simply to have a companion, someone to talk to. Apparently, even gods get lonely. Nevertheless, Gaiman's gambit with his audience is that his god is far from perfect, and then he dares you to outweigh his shortcomings with the overall goodness of his intentions. Essentially, do the means justify the end?

Like a child in the sandbox who can't find his buried toys, Morpheus goes about searching for his essential tools which consist of a small bag of sand, his elephantine helm, and a powerful ruby stone. Along the way, we're introduced to several more characters that have all too common problems that make them more empathetic. Johanna Constantine (Jenna Coleman), a necromancer and occultist for hire who, in the process of retrieving Morpheus' bag of sand, must deal with the awkward conclusion of a romantic relationship, and John Dee (David Thewlis), a particularly tragic character that you will find at the center of almost every good Neil Gaiman yarn. His use of meek, misunderstood mortals is a device he's used before and is incredibly relatable. The son of Ethel Cripps (Joely Richardson), the woman who initially stole the ruby, John is the most human of all the characters in The Sandman. Broken, abandoned by a mother who shelved him away in mental institutions for most of his life, he is a lost soul, searching for purpose and change. He's been lied to his entire life and after being gifted the powerful ruby that makes dreams come true, John does what a lot of us would do in the same position. Tired of being surrounded by false pretenses and untruths, he wishes for a world with more honesty. That doesn't sound at all bad, much less malicious, but with his broken mind having changed the true power of the stone, the well-paced diner episode reveals that his wishes end up hurting more than helping. No good deed goes unpunished as Gaiman reminds us that too much honesty is problematic. Maybe all the little "white lies" we tell aren't always such a bad thing, right?

Sure, there are completely lovely and compassionate characters like the young dream vortex Rose Walker (Kyo Ra), who represents the good in man and redemptive core qualities that we seek to embody and find easy to root for, as well as the most horribly flawed of them all, the smooth-talking missing nightmare The Corinthian (Boyd Holbrook), whose cruelty is only surpassed by his taste for eyeballs. But with these representations being largely sensationalized and offsetting one another, it's the area in between these two poles that Gaiman's The Sandman will challenge the audience to find the things we like about his creations. Ironically, he recently opened up about how it was initially a challenge to develop well-rounded, relatable characters, "I didn't really get characters. I didn't understand what characters were. And it took a while for me to learn really how to write good characters, characters who were three-dimensional, characters who felt real, characters who felt real to me."

Ultimately, in the tenth and penultimate episode, Morpheus lets go of his greatest flaws, his stubbornness, and his arrogance. Heeding the wisdom of his sister and easily the most likable of the Morpheus' three siblings, Death (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), Dream realizes that they exist to serve humans and that one cannot exist without the other. "Our purpose is our function." Death says. It's hard to find flaw with that. Now what to do about Desire (Mason Alexander Park)?

September 01, 2022 •

Desire's Threshold In The Sandman Has 1 Mysterious Missing Detail

Warning: SPOILERS for The Sandman Season 1.

Netflix's The Sandman introduces Desire's (Mason Alexander Park) Threshold, which despite its vast differences from the Dreaming, is missing one key detail that all realms of the Endless are supposed to share. Netflix's adaptation originates from Neil Gaiman's comic series of the same name with The Sandman season 1 bringing the first volumes of Gaiman's comics, Preludes and Nocturnes and The Doll's House, to the big screen. The Sandman's surprise season 1 bonus episode adapts from Gaiman's Dream Country collection, which was expected for a possible season 2, yet even this extra content fails to address one mysterious detail absence.

The various realms of the Endless each contain stylized galleries with the sigils representing each of the siblings except for the Prodigal's sword which is missing. The Endless use the sigils to call upon their brothers and sisters. Desire caresses their twin's hooked ring sigil to ask if Despair (Donna Preston) will listen to them and Dream (Tom Sturridge) holds Desire's cut-glass heart to summon Desire and enter their realm, the Threshold.

While Dream's gallery in the Dreaming holds his sigil, a facsimile of the Dream Helm, he presumably has no need for it. Dream's powers lie within his symbols of office, the actual Dream Helm, his Ruby, and his Sand. On the other hand, Desire's gallery lacks both the missing Prodigal's sigil and the glass heart that represents them seen in Dream's gallery. Instead, Desire's sigil in their own gallery is replaced by a small rectangular mirror. This lack of sigil seems to be a genuine mystery, given the context of the rest of the series. However, clues from throughout The Sandman suggest that this may actually be an extremely meaningful aspect of Desire's character.

How Desire's Sigil Could Factor Into The Sandman Season 2

Desire's Threshold is missing their heart sigil because just as Dream has no need for his own sigil in his gallery, Desire does not need theirs. The replacement of Desire's sigil with a mirror is actually a detail that perfectly embodies them. As the personification of Desire, Desire not only adores their own reflection, but the Threshold is also a mega-sized, flesh and blood statue of themself. Desire's sigil is not only their entire place of residence in the Threshold, but also the symbol of the Dream Vortex's power as Desire's granddaughter Rose Walker (Vanesu Samunyai) passes it back to Unity Kinkaid (Sandra James-Young).

Ultimately, Desire's sigil could factor into The Sandman season 2 as Rose discovers her true heritage and all else her ancestry entails. Even though all of Desire's plans in The Sandman season 1 failed, they vow to continue their machinations against Dream despite Dream's strength alongside Death (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) and Destiny. Even without his Endless siblings, Dream is formidable in his own right facing off against the nightmare Corinthian (Boyd Holbrook) and even besting Gwendoline Christie's Lucifer Morningstar. The Sandman's popularity continues to chart it in Netflix's top ten and looks promising for a season 2 renewal, which could yet explore more of the lore behind the sigils.

August 31, 2022 •

Neil Gaiman Says the Sandman's Season 2 Chances Are Improving

The Sandman co-creator Neil Gaiman recently indicated that the chances of Season 2 happening are improving.

Responding to a fan on Twitter, Gaiman said that the odds of the Netflix fantasy drama series being renewed were "getting higher every day." The Sandman is based on the acclaimed DC comic book series of the same name created by Gaiman and artists Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg. Its first 10-episode season premiered on Aug. 5, with a surprise bonus episode dropping two weeks later, on Aug. 19.

Getting higher every day... https://t.co/u2IoqnvFGn
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) August 24, 2022

The Sandman Season 1 received a broadly positive response from critics, with reviews praising the adaptation's cast, production design, visual effects and fidelity to the original comics. The show was also popular with audiences, as viewership data recently revealed that The Sandman is the biggest streaming show on the planet, generating 23.8 times the demand of the average series following its release. This data was derived from a range of engagement statistics, including consumer research, streaming, downloads and social media activity.

Will Netflix Renew The Sandman for a Second Season?

Gaiman has since confirmed that The Sandman's stellar performance doesn't mean Netflix will automatically order more episodes, though. "Sandman is a really expensive show," he tweeted. "And for Netflix to release the money to let us make another season we have to perform incredibly well. So yes, we've been the top show in the world for the last two weeks. That still may not be enough." Gaiman subsequently encouraged fans to continue binge-watching the series, as the resulting uptick in The Sandman's viewer completion rate would boost its renewal prospects.

The celebrated scribe also confirmed that The Sandman can still be saved even if Netflix cancels it. Asked whether a rival streaming service such as HBO Max, Prime Video, Disney+ or Apple TV+ could pick up the series in the event Netflix pulls the plug, Gaiman replied that this was indeed the case. Netflix is yet to officially comment on The Sandman's future at this stage.

On a more positive note, executive producer David S. Goyer assured fans that scripts for The Sandman Season 2 were currently being worked on, despite the second season not yet getting the green light. Goyer, who co-developed the series with Gaiman and Allan Heinberg, described the writing process as in some ways easier this time around, now that Season 1 has established the show's core characters and concepts.

The Sandman Season 1 is currently streaming on Netflix.

Source: Twitter

August 25, 2022 •

Netflix The Witcher

Netflix's The Witcher Season 3 Recasts a Major Character

Photos from the set of Netflix's The Witcher show one of the major antagonists for Season 3 of the hit-fantasy show has been recast.

Redanian Intelligence reported the fiery sorcerer, Rience, played by actor Chris Fulton in Season 2, will now be played by Sam Woolf. The reason for the switch is currently unknown but it is speculated the recast was necessary due to a scheduling conflict.

Rience made his live-action debut in the fifth episode of Season 2, "Turn Your Back." He is freed from prison and sent to hunt Ciri for a mysterious figure. Much like his novel counterpart in Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher saga, the fire mage's face was horrifically scarred during his encounter with the sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg, who battled Rience to save the bard Jaskier.

Recasting is not new for The Witcher. Season 2 saw one of the monster slayers of Kaer Morhen recast, requiring a significant reshoot. Eskel was originally played by actor Thue Ersted Rasmussen. However, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the subsequent industry shut down, he was forced to step away from the project. Eskel was replaced by Basil Eidenbenz.

The Witcher in 2022

Filming for The Witcher Season 3 is currently back in full swing after a brief delay brought on by COVID-19 and star Henry Cavill's temporary departure. The star returned to set and it is unknown how the delay will impact the show's release date, if at all. Reports suggest the Netflix series is scheduled to complete production in September, in time for release sometime in 2023.

Before that, it is believed Netflix intends to release the live-action prequel series, The Witcher: Blood Origin, which is currently in post-production after several weeks of reshoots. While it was originally announced as a six-part limited series, the episode count has been cut down to four following the reshoots. It's uncertain why this change was made.

The Witcher: Blood Origin is set 1,200 years before the events of the main series, in the ancient days of the Continent, when the land was ruled predominately by elves and magic was still a new force, introduced to the land by the cataclysmic events known as the Conjunction of the Spheres. The series introduces a number of elven figures unique to the show, including Éile, played by Sophia Brown; Fjall, played by Laurence O'Fuarain, and Scian played by Michelle Yeoh.

The Witcher Season 3 does not yet have a release date. No official release date has yet been announced for The Witcher: Blood Origin.

August 25, 2022 •