The long-awaited Season 2 ofThe Witcherhas come and gone. On most fronts, it’s a resounding success, continuing the journeys of Geralt, Yennefer, Ciri, and the other characters with compelling results. Of course, this success breeds further excitement, and many fans are already looking for Season 3.
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This upcoming season will be based onA Time of Contempt, the second book in the mainlineWitchersaga. In addition to giving readers more of the characters they love, the tale also introduces several new faces to the dark fantasy world. Audiences are doubtless eager to see these guys brought to the screen. The first step in judging their adaptation is to see whom the creators cast in the roles. Luckily, many talented actors would do these characters justice. Whether the showrunners take fans' suggestions or go in an unexpected direction remains to be seen.
8Molnar Giancardi – Warwick Davis
This Dwarf is a banker whom Yennefer deals with early in the tale. Naturally curious, he subtly tries to discover his clients' true intentions through passive conversation. That said, he maintains professionalism and courtesy for risk of driving them away. This makes him a lot more tolerable thanthe crooked banker from the games. Such a sharp character requires an actor with palpable charisma.
Warwick Davis would do well here. His charm has helped him carry several cult films likeWillowand theLeprechaunseries. Outside of these, Davis’s chameleon capability has made him one of the most prolific character actors in the business, playing quirky supporting roles inStar Wars,Harry Potter, and other genre flicks. Might as well add another sly character to his resume.
7Fabio Sachs – John Bell
No, this isn’t the ’80s model. The Fabio ofThe Witcheris a kid who works for Molnar, but he couldn’t be more different from the banker. His classy upbringing has given him the knowledge of a scholar and the manners of a good host. Sadly, it’s also made him naive to the more dangerous aspects of the world, which makes him an amusing foil for the danger-savvy Ciri.
John Bell has both the appropriate age and persona. This young actor’s deer-in-the-headlights demeanor has informed his two most popular roles: Bain inThe Hobbitand Young Ian inOutlander. What these characters also showed, however, was a likable innocence. This quality is difficult to pull off with honesty, and it’s essential to a sheltered guy like Fabio.
6Keira Metz – Krystin Pellerin
Many sorceresses have already made their mark onscreen, but Season 3 will likely introduce viewers to Keira Metz. She’s a somewhat playful mage whom Geralt meets at the Thanedd gathering. Players also find her hiding out in Velen duringThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, though not by choice. Whileshe sometimes aims for the moral high ground, Keira likes the lap of luxury and has no qualms about using people to attain it. This means she can be fairly cutthroat when the need arises, albeit not as gracefully or cleverly as other mages like Yennefer.
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Krystin Pellerin demonstrates these traits in various works, especiallyRepublic of Doyle. She’s credibly uncompromising, but this doesn’t diminish her likeability. It actually makes her more endearing, partly due to the imperfection she so naturally conveys. Pellerin carries a working-class grace that is hard to replicate. This means she’s uniquely suited to a character like Keira.
5Eredin – Callan Mulvey
Eredin leadsthe Wild Hunt: spectral horsemen seen as omens of death. That may sound cool, but it’s tough to make these guys interesting. At best, they’re the poor man’s Nazgûl fromThe Lord of the Rings. At worst, they come off as generic fantasy villains from an uninspiredDungeons & Dragonsgame.
This is cemented by their leader, who is little more than a backstabber who wants to exploit Ciri for her power. Season 2 offered glimpses of Eredin and his ilk, but Season 3 will likely show the despot in more detail. Hopefully, he’ll have a bit more depth than fans expect, especially given his part in theBlood Originprequel series.
One actor who could bring him to life is Callan Mulvey. His rugged demeanor has let him play plenty of “tough guy” roles, so he’ll easily bring the physical presence needed for the hellish rider. However, what’s been somewhat lost in recent years is Mulvey’s talent for drama. He can handle some truly heartbreaking emotionality, as shown inRush,Bikie Wars,Mystery Road, and other Australian shows. This will obviously aid in Eredin’s depth should the writers attempt to give him some dimension.
4Falka – Rosa Salazar
As the characters continue to unravelthe mystery surrounding Ciri, readers learn of her ancestor, Falka. A princess forsaken by her father, she led a bloody rebellion against her former kingdom, slaughtering much of her family in the process. This crazed killer was eventually captured and burned at the stake, but her murderous deeds still resonated years later and formed some of the apprehension regarding Ciri. It only tracks that the show would feature Falka in a flashback or vision at some point.
For these sequences, Rosa Salazar would prove a prime fit. She has carved out a comfortable place for herself tackling emotionally raw roles. Whether it’s major characters like inAlita: Battle Angelor bit parts like Copperhead inBatman: Arkham Origins, her primal energy is consistently disarming. That kind of passion would be invaluable in selling Falka’s vengeful insanity.
3Giselher – Ben Barnes
For simplicity’s sake, the show may not include every member of the Rats, but one whom viewers can count on is the leader. Giselher was pressed into military service during his drunken antics. He doesn’t remember which faction, but he soon deserted and joined a group of other young misfits. These kids formed a gang of outlaws, killing as they went. Because of these experiences, Giselher is a foreboding individual despite his youthful appearance.
Ben Barnes has undergone a similar transformation in his career.He started out playing boyish characters like Prince Caspianin theChronicles of Narniamovies. As he’s gotten older, though, he’s mostly taken villainous roles in projects likeThe Punisher,Westworld, andShadow and Bone. In fact, he’s often the main antagonist nowadays. This would make him convincing not just as a member of these scallywags, but as their leader.
2Kayleigh – Alex Høgh Andersen
Kayleigh is cut from the same cloth as Giselher. He survived a bloody slaughter and subsequently joined the Rats. Technically, he’s still a youngster, but he’s nevertheless a frightening sight, sporting angular eyes and a grim look far exceeding his age. Even when bound and beaten by a band of thugs, he still seems like the most dangerous one in the room.
Alex Høgh Andersen fits that to a tee. On top of the obvious physical similarities, such as the scary eyes, he terrified viewers for years asIvar the BonelessonVikings. This warrior may be a cripple, but he’s still the most intimidating figure in every scene. This comes down to Andersen, who’s equally at home with unhinged intensity and disarming sharpness. If given the chance, he can continue to freak viewers out as Kayleigh.
1Mistle – Jodie Comer
Potentially the most important member of the Rats, Mistle is a radical departure from the others. She sees how lost Ciri is and assumes a warm, nurturing role. Moving forward with her affections, she soon becomes a source of physical and emotional (somewhat uncomfortable) companionship for the young heroine.
Jodie Comer has headlined two such romantic tales:The White PrincessandKilling Eve. She’s the dominant party in each case, and she’s believable in both despite the age and gender differences. Her nuanced expressions convey maturity and off-kilter gentleness beyond her years. That’s exactly what Mistle calls for. Doing so will create a dynamic bondevery bit as heartbreaking as Geralt’s sorry love life.
