Netflix has canceled 2 new series of The Witcher, according to rumors.

Although never perfect, the live-action adaptation of The Witcher managed to captivate fans in its early seasons. Now, its future looks more problematic due to Henry Cavill's controversial departure. As we await the release of Season 4, it seems the franchise is faltering.

Despite Henry Cavill bidding farewell to the project and stepping down from his role as the witcher Geralt of Rivia, production of the new episodes will continue with actor Liam Hemsworth in the lead role. While showrunner Lauren Hissrich previously confessed plans to expand the story for up to 7 seasons, ultimately the series will conclude with just 5.

Alongside the main show adapting the work of Andrzej Sapkowski, multiple spin-offs delving into this universe were planned: from Blood Origin starring Michelle Yeoh to the upcoming Sirens of the Deep. However, it seems other derivative series have had worse luck.

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The Witcher spin-off series reportedly canceled by Netflix

In 2022, reports emerged indicating that Netflix was working on a spin-off starring The Rats, the group of young criminals who appeared at the end of Season 3. Apparently, the plan was to create a prequel showing these characters pulling off a major heist.

According to the Redanian Intelligence portal, this derivative series will never make it to the streaming service as it has been canceled. It's said that filming began in early May 2023 and concluded at the end of June, lasting only 2 months. Apparently, only 1 or 2 episodes of the originally planned 6 or 8 were shot.

Netflix apparently watched the first episodes of the spin-off The Rats and decided not to proceed with the production of the rest of the season. However, the report highlights that the filmed material might be repurposed in Season 4 of The Witcher as flashback sequences.

The report indicates that The Rats wasn't the only canceled project. It's said that a child-friendly animated series also met the axe and will never see the light of day. This information isn't confirmed by the streaming giant, so we recommend taking it with caution.

But tell us, would you have liked to see these series? Do you think Andrzej Sapkowski's adaptation will succeed without Henry Cavill?