WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for The Witcher season 3, part 2.
Summary
- Anya Chalotra shares her hopes for Yennefer in The Witcher season 4, highlighting her character's growth after losing Tissaia and Ciri.
- Chalotra says "Her life without Tissaia is different. Her life for Ciri is different. That can only be a stronger Yennefer."
- The Netflix adaptation has made significant changes from the books, including Yennefer's storyline and her association with Vilgefortz.
Anya Chalotra shares her hopes for The Witcher season 4, teasing what's to come in her portrayal of Yennefer of Vengerberg and her thoughts on Liam Hemsworth replacing Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia. The third installment of the hit Netflix fantasy series was an eventful one, as it saw Yennefer forming a closer bond with Geralt (Cavill) and Ciri (Freya Allan). But in the second half of the season, the trio is separated and Yennefer goes on her own journey. Chalotrra's character finds herself as the leader of the mages after Tissaia (MyAnna Buring) dies by suicide.
In an interview with Digital Spy prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike, Chalotra shared her hopes for The Witcher season 4. The actor was asked about which direction she'd like to see for her character in the upcoming episodes, responding that Yennefer can only be stronger after losing Tissaia and Ciri. She was also asked if she was worried about Hemsworth stepping into the role of Geralt, where she shows no concern. In the quotes below, Chalotra also addresses some of the changes that Netflix's Witcher show has made:
I honestly don't know what's coming for Yennefer. We have created so much of Yennefer's story. We've had to. I mean, we didn't have to, but the show has decided to do that, and I'm very grateful for that.
I suppose I know the direction she's going in but I don't know. Her life without Tissaia is different. Her life for Ciri is different. That can only be a stronger Yennefer.
I'm not worried. He's going to be brilliant. I really think so.
How The Witcher Season 3's Yennefer Differs From The Books
In the books on which The Witcher is based, as Chalotra indicates, Yennefer's story differs significantly. The character is presumed dead after the coup has started, for one, and she only learns about what happened to Cirl and Geralt after the battle has ended. Another change that the Netflix adaptation chooses to make is that, unlike the books, Yennefer isn't believed to be working with Vilgefortz (Mahesh Jadu).
If The Witcher season 4 follows the books, then it will be some time before Yennefer reunites with Geralt. But the adaptation has already made a lot of changes from its source material, even beyond just what happens to Yennefer, including expanded origin stories and characters that only appear in the series. It's likely that The Witcher continues to make changes, which makes Yennefer's future hard to pin down.
Her uncertain future also allows Chalotra to bring her own specifics to the character, helping to distinguish her time in the role. Plus, with Cavill vacating the role of Geralt, Chalotra's familiarity bodes well for an audience that may have reservations about something as significant as changing up a main character. However, hopefully her thoughts on Hemsworth will help ease audience reservations. The best that could be hoped for is that, despite Cavill's exit, The Witcher is still in good hands.
Source: Digital Spy