Filming for ‘The Witcher’ Final Season Begins in South Africa

Filming for the fifth and final season of ‘The Witcher’ commenced on February 26, 2025, in Cape Town, South Africa, making use of sets from the spinoff ‘The Rats’. The season features key plot developments for Ciri and is expected to conclude production by September 2025, aiming for a 2026 release. Netflix has not made a formal announcement regarding the start of filming, remaining discreet about the series post recent content releases.

The filming for the fifth and final season of ‘The Witcher’ has commenced in Cape Town, South Africa, starting February 26, 2025. This marks a significant point as almost seven years have passed since the inaugural season began filming in Hungary. The production migrates to this new location to utilize sets previously constructed for the spinoff, ‘The Rats: A Witcher’s Tale’, which shares the same in-universe location as Season 5.

Instead of returning to the Longcross Studios in England for production, the team initiated location shoots in South Africa, reflecting a new direction for the series’ concluding chapter. This season’s production is under the codename “Complete Chaos.” Filming in South Africa is set to continue until March 21, 2025, featuring prominent scenes primarily centered on the character Ciri.

Freya Allan’s character, Ciri, will navigate a perilous plotline in Season 5, facing off in a fighting pit owned by the crime lord Dominik Houvenaghel. This setting lays the groundwork, connecting the events of the upcoming season with those from the spinoff, which is a heist narrative involving Houvenaghel and his cousin, Leo Bonhart. Notably, the town has not been named in the series, although it references Ebbing from the novels.

Additionally, unique outdoor locations in South Africa have been utilized, such as the Cederberg rocks and Stellenbosch areas, with props including fake corpses enhancing the dramatic scenes featuring Ciri. Anya Chalotra and Anna Shaffer, portraying Yennefer and Triss respectively, were also on set for filming during the final week, indicating their involvement in Season 5. However, the presence of Liam Hemsworth, who plays Geralt, was not noted.

This initial phase of filming sets a strong foundation for Season 5, which is expected to continue shooting through September 2025 with a release anticipated in 2026. Despite the ongoing production, Netflix has not yet formally announced the start of filming or provided a promotional push, remaining relatively quiet since the underwhelming reception of the recent content, ‘Sirens of the Deep’, released in February 2023. Additionally, Season 4 of ‘The Witcher’ is expected to premiere sometime in 2025.

The final season of ‘The Witcher’ has begun filming in South Africa, marking a pivotal transition from the franchise’s early roots. With significant connections to the spinoff ‘The Rats’, Season 5 appears to incorporate various plotlines involving Ciri. Despite challenges and a quieter promotional strategy from Netflix, the production aims to deliver a compelling conclusion to this beloved series, targeting a release in 2026 after filming continues through September 2025.

Original Source: www.whats-on-netflix.com