Netflix's live-action adaptation of The Witcher has finally found its Vesemir... but it's probably not who you were expecting. According to multiple reports over the past few months, the role of Geralt's friend and mentor had been offered to Mark Hamill, Michael Keaton, and Mads Mikkelsen. However, a surprising new contender has emerged to take the part.
Yes, Kim Bodnia will be joining the cast of The Witcher's second season as Vesemir. I imagine this will come as slightly disappointing news to those fans who were particularly vocal about seeing Hamill take on the role, but I reckon Bodnia has the chops to absolutely nail what is bound to be a crucial part in the continuing adventures of Geralt and friends.
For those who aren't familiar with his work, Bodnia is a Danish actor, writer, and director. He's probably best known for his role as detective Martin Rohde in the critically acclaimed Scandinavian series The Bridge. If you've never seen it, it's at least worth a watch to try and get a measure of what Bodnia will bring to the role of Vesemir.
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He's certainly got a world-weary manner that I can see working incredibly well for Vesemir, a much older Witcher who's been around the block a few times. Bodnia's Vesemir joins Henry Cavill, Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, and Joey Batey, who are set to reprise their roles as Geralt, Yennefer, Ciri, and Jaskier respectively.
Of course, Bodnia won't be the only new witcher on the scene when season two airs next year. Paul Bullion has been cast as Lambert, Thue Ersted Rasmussen is playing Eskel. These fellow witchers both trained with Geralt as part of the school of the Wolf, and all three studied under Vesemir at Kaer Morhen, the ancestral home of the witchers. It should be a touching reunion when all four are on screen together, that's for sure.
Rounding out the currently confirmed cast for season two is Yasen Atour as Coen, Games of Thrones actor Kristofer Hivju as Nivellen, Aisha Fabienne Ross as Lydia, and Mecia Simson as Francesca, the queen of the elves of Dol Blathanna.
The Witcher season two is expected in 2021, but before then we'll be getting a special animated spinoff movie starring Vesemir himself. It remains to be seen whether Bodnia will be voicing the part in the spinoff ahead of his "proper" first appearance, but we can assume this will be the case.
Featured Image Credit: NetflixTopics: The Witcher, CD Projekt Red
