After nearly a decade of production, the live-action tale of Geralt of Rivia is coming to a definitive close. Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich has confirmed that the fifth season of Netflix’s The Witcher will be the final chapter, marking the end of the road for the series and her own near-nine-year involvement with the Continent.
The Journey to the Final Season
Netflix’s adaptation of The Witcher book series by Andrzej Sapkowski premiered in December 2019. The show is now in its final stretch, with the fourth season having been released on October 30, 2025, and a fifth and final season already in post-production. The show’s conclusion was set in motion when Netflix decided to renew the series for its last two seasons at the same time, allowing the writers to craft a deliberate ending.
The series has undergone significant changes, most notably the recasting of its lead character. Henry Cavill played Geralt of Rivia for the first three seasons, with Liam Hemsworth taking over the role starting with Season 4. The final two seasons adapt the last three books in Sapkowski’s saga: Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow, and Lady of the Lake.
Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich recently provided a clear and decisive answer about the show’s future. She stated that the story they set out to tell will reach its conclusion with Season 5.
“By the time we wrap Season 5 fully, it will have been nine years of my life,” Hissrich said. “I think there are so many more stories to be told in The Witcher universe, truly. But I also think you have to step back and accept gracefully what is the end of this story that we’ve been telling? Are there more stories? Maybe. But this one has to end at this point, so I think it’s a nice time for all of us to step back a little bit.”
A Planned Conclusion from the Books
Hissrich has long maintained that the Netflix series would not move beyond the narrative of Sapkowski’s original books. This plan remains firmly in place for the final season. The showrunner had previously promised that the series would have the same ending as the books, a commitment she has reiterated as production wraps up.
“We have the ending. And there were certain things – I mean, the books go a little crazy. And I say that with the most deference because I love them,” Hissrich commented. “We lean so hardcore into fantasy at the end in wonderful ways that Sapkowski introduced us to. So we knew the stories that we needed to end with.”
This approach suggests that while the show has made changes and additions for its television format, the core conclusion for Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri will remain faithful to the spirit of the source material.
What to Expect in the Final Season
Season 4 left its main characters in precarious positions, setting the stage for a dramatic final season. Geralt of Rivia, now played by Liam Hemsworth, was officially knighted as Geralt of Rivia by Queen Meve. However, he and his company of companions, known as the Hanza, subsequently deserted her ranks to continue their urgent search for Ciri.
Ciri’s storyline ended on a brutal note. The bounty hunter Leo Bonhart slaughtered her found family, the Rats, and took her prisoner. The final season will pick up with Ciri being forced to fight in a fighting pit before she eventually manages to escape.
Meanwhile, Yennefer finds herself on the Skellige Isles, a location familiar to fans of The Witcher 3 video game. This moves her character back into a storyline more closely aligned with the books after she spent much of Season 4 on an original narrative path.
The production team has already completed filming for Season 5. Principal photography wrapped in September 2025, and the season is now in the post-production phase, which includes visual effects, editing, and sound mixing.
A Changing Relationship with Fans
Throughout its run, The Witcher series has faced criticism from some fans of the books and games for the creative liberties it has taken with the source material. In response to this backlash, Hissrich has defended the show’s approach, explaining that adaptation requires changes for the television medium.
“You have book fans, you have video game fans, and then you have fans that knew nothing about this world until the show existed. And the truth is we can’t choose one audience,” Hissrich noted. She emphasized that the original books and games remain untouched and available for fans to enjoy. “No one is taking the books away. No one is taking the video games away. I think everyone can have their version of The Witcher and this is this version.”
Looking to the Future
While the main series is concluding, the world of The Witcher on Netflix may continue in other forms. The platform has already released several spin-offs, including the animated film Nightmare of the Wolf (2021), the prequel miniseries Blood Origin (2022), and the recently released animated feature Sirens of the Deep (2025). A special episode titled The Rats: A Witcher Tale was also released alongside Season 4.
Hissrich’s comments suggest that while she is personally stepping away after Season 5, the door is not completely closed for more stories from the Continent in the future. For now, the focus is on delivering a satisfying conclusion to the epic story that began in 2019.
Also Read: Liam Hemsworth Explains Why He Took Over as Geralt in The Witcher Season 4
