The Witcher is set to resume production on its second season on August 17th, Netflix confirmed on Monday.
Showrunners took to Twitter to reveal the news in the form of a poem by Geralt’s bard Jaskier, which said it was time for filming to restart after production stopped earlier this year amid the coronavirus crisis.
The poem read: ‘I’m dusting off my lute and quill, I have some news, some mead to spill: After all the months we’ve been apart It’s time for production to restart.
It’s back! The Witcher’s second season is set to resume production on August 17 after filming came to a halt amid the coronavirus crisis, Netflix revealed on Monday
‘The Witcher and his bard – who’s flawless, will reunite on set 17 August.’
Production on The Witcher had begun in February in the UK prior to the lockdown, with some scenes being filmed in Surrey.
The Guardian reported earlier this month a number of films and shows, including The Witcher, were given the green light to begin shooting again from July, after the government signed off on new safety rules as a result of the global pandemic.
According to the publication Warner Bros was also looking to re-start filming The Batman and the third instalment of the Fantastic Beasts franchise.
Exciting: Showrunners took to Twitter and revealed the news in the form of a poem by Geralt’s bard Jaskier, saying ‘The Witcher and his bard will reunite on set 17 August’
Before lockdown: Production on The Witcher had begun in February in the UK, with some scenes being filmed in Surrey (pictured Anya Chalotra, who plays Yennefer of Vengerberg)
Guidelines were made by the British Film Commission and the British Film Institute, and ensure physical distancing, safety training and temperature tests for the cast and crew will take place on set.
It was reported that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive have approved the guideline, and productions will be able to decide themselves if they want to resume filming.
Oliver Dowden, the culture secretary, told the publication: ‘We’ve worked hard to support the industry through these difficult times and I’m delighted we’ve been able to agree this step forward towards getting the cameras rolling safely again.’
Exciting: The Guardian reported earlier this month that a number of films and shows, including The Witcher, were given the green light to begin shooting again from July
Meanwhile, a source speaking to the publication added: ‘This is a green light that signals that the UK is open for business again for film and high-end TV production.
‘Many productions have to get up and running again in the next two months or they won’t get made this year as they rely on summer weather and conditions.’
MailOnline contacted Netflix for comment at the time.
The Witcher is based on Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski’s fantasy novels, and focuses on Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), a ‘solitary monster hunter who struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts’.
Safety measures: Guidlines have been drawn up to ensure there is physical distancing, safety training and temperature tests for the cast and crew on set (pictured Freya Allan as Ciri)
Created for TV by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, the showrunner recently revealed she plans to create seven seasons of The Witcher.
When asked about the future of the show, she told SFX Magazine: ‘Oh hell, yeah! Second season? I’ve done it for seven seasons!’
Netflix recently revealed the show was on track to be the platform’s biggest season one TV series ever’ with a massive 76 million viewers tuning in.
In a letter to shareholders pertaining to the company’s Q4 2019 earnings, the streaming giant states that the show, which premiered on December 20th of last year, ‘is tracking to be our biggest season one TV series ever.’
Epic fantasy: The series is based on Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski’s fantasy novels, and focuses on Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill, pictured)