The Witcher: Netflix bets big on Game of Thrones-style fantasy series with season 2 announcement

Netflix has announced some major news about the future of new show The Witcher, a month before it launches on the streaming service.

Earlier in November, a brand new trailer was released showing Henry Cavill in action as Geralt of Rivia, the main character who hunts monsters in a world known as The Continent.

Viewers will have some time to get used to the Superman actor as Geralt, as the series will officially be returning for a second run.

The first season has been lined up for a Christmas release, with all eight episodes available to stream on 20 December.

Netflix bosses, who are hoping the show will fill the void left by HBO's Game of Thrones, clearly have big expectations considering the early season two renewal.

The show’s ensemble cast also features Jodhi May, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson, MyAnna Buring, Emma Appleton, Lars Mikkelsen, Wilson Radjou-Pujalte and Anna Shaffer.

The Witcher is based on a series of fantasy novels and short stories written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. They were adapted into a successful video game in 2007.

In the Netflix series, Geralt will team up with a powerful sorceress and a young princess – played by Anya Chalotra and Freya Allen, respectively – to battle inter-dimensional demons.

The new series will premiere on Netflix on December 20 2019.