Netflix is putting the finishing touches on the final season of its hit fantasy series. The fifth and last chapter of The Witcher will bring back Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia, Freya Allan as Ciri, and Anya Chalotra as Yennefer. But they will be joined by several new faces, including a beloved character from the books and video games.
Ellie Taylor, known for her work on Ted Lasso and Knuckles, has officially joined the cast of The Witcher Season 5. She will play Anna Henrietta, the Duchess of Toussaint. This character holds a special place for fans who have followed the story through Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels or the The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt video game.
Ellie Taylor Takes on a Major Role from The Witcher 3s Blood and Wine
For those who played the Blood and Wine expansion for The Witcher 3, Anna Henrietta is a familiar and important figure. She rules the beautiful duchy of Toussaint, a land very different from the dark and gritty places Geralt usually visits. In the story, the duchess has a past romantic connection with the bard Jaskier.
Taylor is a British actress and comedian. Her role in Ted Lasso as Sassy, a friend of Rebecca Welton, made her a recognizable face to global audiences. She also appeared in the Knuckles series on Paramount+. Taking on the role of Anna Henrietta is a big step into dramatic fantasy for her.
The show plans to bring the duchess to life in the middle of the final season. Reports suggest she will appear around episodes five and six. Geralt and his group travel to Toussaint while searching for Ciri, and that is where they meet the duchess.
New Faces Join the Final Season Alongside Liam Hemsworth and Freya Allan
The casting news does not stop with Ellie Taylor. Netflix is adding over 25 new actors for the final run of episodes. Many of these new characters tie directly to the dangerous situation Ciri finds herself in at the start of Season 5.
At the end of Season 4, the bounty hunter Leo Bonhart captured Ciri. Instead of handing her over to Emperor Emhyr, Bonhart decides to sell her to a crime boss. Neil Stuke, known for Silk and Game On, will play Dominik Houvenaghel. This character is Bonhart’s cousin and runs underground fighting pits where Ciri is forced to fight.
Other new cast members include Sam Pamphilon as Cyprian Fripp and Yinka Awoni as Zadarlik. These two characters are part of Stefan Skellen’s gang, who will continue hunting Ciri after she escapes from the fighting pits. The Toussaint storyline also brings in Andy Apollo as the knight Reynart de Bois-Fresne and Taylor James as the Baron de Trastamara.
Why Anna Henrietta Means So Much to Witcher Fans
The addition of Anna Henrietta is a big deal for the community. For book readers, she appears in the final novel, Lady of the Lake. But for the millions who played the video games, she is the heart of the Blood and Wine expansion. That story is often called one of the best DLCs ever made for any game.
There is a special connection between the game and the show regarding this character. In The Witcher 3, the voice of Anna Henrietta was provided by actress MyAnna Buring. Interestingly, Buring later joined the Netflix series in a different role. She played Tissaia de Vries, the head of Aretuza, who was a mentor to Yennefer. Buring appeared in the show from Season 1 until her character’s death in Season 3.
Fans have been asking to see Toussaint and its duchess on screen for years. The duchy is known for its bright colors, knightly tournaments, and good wine. It is a sharp contrast to the rest of the Continent. Bringing this location and character into the final season gives the show a chance to honor the source material that so many people love.
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Release Plans for The Witcher Season 5 on Netflix
The fifth season finished filming and is currently in post-production. Unlike the long waits between previous seasons, Netflix plans to release the final season much sooner. The show released Season 4 in 2025. Previous gaps between seasons were often two years.
Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich explained that Season 4 and Season 5 were written and filmed closer together. The fourth season was designed to feel like the first half of a bigger story. Because of this planning, the wait for the fifth season will be shorter. Current reports suggest The Witcher Season 5 will arrive on Netflix sometime near the end of 2026.
This is the last ride for this adaptation of Sapkowski’s books. The story follows Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri as they face the end of their journey together. With the addition of Ellie Taylor as Anna Henrietta, the show is bringing in a character that represents a final, important stop for the White Wolf.
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