When does The Witcher Season 2 start - Netflix UK release date, trailer, who’s in the cast with Henry Cavill?

Superman himself, Henry Cavill returns to the title role in the second season of The Witcher, Netflix’s fantasy adventure based on the best-selling series penned by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski.

The first series may not have been as universally successful as Game of Thrones, but it filled a gap in the lives of some of those hooked on the adaptation of George RR Martin’s works.

Now it’s back for a second run, with a third already in the pipeline.

Here is everything you need to know about it.

What happens in The Witcher Season 2?

Once again Henry Cavill heads the cast as the titular character, monster-hunter Geralt of Rivia.

Monster hunter Geralt of Rivia and Princess Cirilla (Freya Allan) finally met at the end of the first series and now the adventure begins to realise her destiny.

There’s a law that ties the fates of Geralt and Ciri together – she is known as his ‘child surprise’ – and now he’s found her, he takes her under his wing.

When we catch up with Geralt, he’s convinced that Yennefer lost her life at the Battle of Sodden, so takes Cirilla to his childhood home of Kaer Morhen, where he thinks she will be safe.

She has mysterious inner powers she struggles to control, and he is determined to keep her protected as she commits to being a Witcher.

Although under threat from extraordinary beings, it’s the power she carries within her that could prove to be the girl’s downfall.

Yennefer was actually victorious, and in series two, viewers will see her emerging as a changed woman; Geralt’s lustful relationship with her deepens as he trains Cirilla for the fight ahead.

Meanwhile, powerful elven figures including Filavandrel (Tom Canton) and sorceress Francesca (Mecia Simson) realise that a fragile alliance may be the only way to neutralise the human threat to their kind’s survival.

Who stars in it?

Once again, the star of the show is Henry Cavill, who returns as monster-hunter Geralt of Rivia.

The Jersey-born actor, 38, tore his hamstring while shooting the second series and, as the lead star with a lot of fight scenes, it was a difficult situation.

Describing the injury as a rather nasty tear, the star - who’s best known for portraying Superman in films - said if it were any worse, “it would have been ruptured, and that means it comes off the bone.

“That would have been a real pause in my action career, if not the end of it.”

Thankfully, a “fair portion” of the series’ action had already been filmed by the time of the injury, but there was still a major fight scene left to shoot.

“And there’s still obviously being on my feet all the time, or walking around, or running around, even if it’s not fighting,” said Cavill. “So that was a tricky line to tread, to make sure I wasn’t further injuring myself and I was recovering properly.”

Alongside Cavill, returning to the character of Ciri is Freya Allan, 20, who had to try her hand at a new skill.

“I had to learn how to sword fight and also a few stunts as well,” notes the rising star, who hails from Oxfordshire.

“It was a different challenge. For a moment, you get to escape doing all the really emotionally intense scenes, which are exhausting in that sense, and go to something which is more physical and more practical. It’s really nice to break up the filming.”

Rounding out the trio of central characters is Anya Chalotra, who plays Yennefer, a character who “goes on a real long journey of self-discovery this season,” according to the star.

“She’s really got to rely on her wits this season to get out of certain situations, and we find her, at the end of season two, with a new purpose.”

When can I watch it?

The Witcher Season 2 premieres globally on Netflix on 17 December 2021.

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