The Witcher's Jaskier Actor Reveals Surprising Addition For Season 3

Season 3 of The Witcher immerses the audience in a world brimming with complex characters, one of which Joey Batey insisted on incorporating from the books. The books serve as the primary source material for the Netflix series' storyline, and it was crucial to maintain consistency with this source. Specifically, The Witcher season 3 is based on the second novel in the Andrzej Sapkowski series, Time of Contempt. The narrative heavily revolves around Ciri, a central character that the producers have pledged to faithfully represent from The Witcher books. As Ciri comes into her own, she will have greater autonomy in her life. The book focuses on the challenges faced by the Cintran princess as she learns to control her magical abilities. Aptly titled, the source material for The Witcher's new season is replete with tragedy and arduous choices. However, Batey's desire to include a particular character stems from a more personal connection.

"I insisted on including a book character," Batey revealed during an interview with GamesRadar+. "I specifically requested Vespula to be a part of it." Vespula, who was Jaskier's lover, had been a character Batey had become familiar with during the audition process. "We had this scene from the book, and it was really gratifying to revisit it, especially the scene with Vespula, which was the scene I auditioned with five years ago. It felt like everything had come full circle, and I truly felt connected to the character."

Vespula has already transitioned successfully from the pages of the book to the realm of the game. Often seen berating Dandelion for his infidelity and hurling frying pans at him, her presence adds depth to Jaskier's backstory. Additionally, other characters from both the books and the game will play more significant roles in the upcoming season. While she briefly appeared in season 2 without her usual owl guise, Philippa Eilhart will wield considerable influence. Furthermore, fans will finally witness the clash between the Redanian King Radovid and The Witcher's contentious elves, previously mentioned in the last season.

Season 3 provides an opportunity to further explore The Witcher universe, minimizing deviations that could upset the book's dedicated fan base. Although Vespula may not receive the same level of development as Philippa or Dijkstra, her inclusion serves an important purpose. In the first two seasons, Jaskier received insufficient screen time to truly function as a main character. Season 1 saw him brushed off by Geralt, and he only resurfaced halfway through Season 2. With Vespula's incorporation, Jaskier gains an inner life and the chance to evolve beyond being solely a support for Geralt and a source of comedic relief.

The Witcher season 3 vol. 1 is airing on Netflix.

Source: GamesRadar+