Last year after its debut on Netflix, The Witcher, became the most-watched first season of a television series on the streaming platform. The fantasy series is adapted from the eponymous novels and short story franchise.

The series primarily chronicles the life of a legendary monster hunter, Geralt of Rivia. He sets out to find his purpose in the fictional, medieval-inspired place known as the Continent and crosses paths with Yennefer and Princess Ciri.

But before we can get back to the trio, Netflix is taking us on a detour. 

The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, Netflix’s animated movie, is a prequel to The Witcher. It takes us to the past to understand more about the never-before-seen character, Vesemir, whom fans may recognize as Geralt’s mentor. 

Ahead of its premiere, Netflix released a video with a detailed explanation on how the upcoming Nightmare of the Wolf anime movie fits into The Witcher timeline.

Where the New Anime Fits In

Nightmare of the Wolf takes us all the way back to the year 1165 instead of Netflix’s The Witcher that takes place in 1263. It will show Kaer Morhen before its ruin at its peak when there were many more Witchers. 

Most fans who follow this fantasy trilogy know that the Witcher fortress of Kaer Morhen was attacked by men in a battle, but why the war existed or what happened was never explored. This is what Nightmare of the Wolf will show. 

The threat that endangered the Witchers’ lives will be explored in-depth and what role Vesemir will play in the catastrophe. The animated movie will also take us as far back as the year 1100 when Vesemir was a boy, but most of the story will occur in 1165.

Nightmare of the Wolf has already premiered on Netflix, and the film’s tone fits perfectly with the fantasy trilogy. While it is not a substitute for the new season of The Witcher, it is just as barbaric, bloody, and morally gray. 

Like all good movies, there is romance, betrayal, death, and power imbalance, making it interesting for viewing. 

Details about the Anime

The role of young adult Vesemir will be voiced by Theo James, who starred in Divergent, Underworld: Awakening, and Underworld: Blood Wars. We also meet other key characters in the movie. 

The first one is Tetra Gilcrest, the powerful sorceress who wants to live in a world where Witchers are eradicated. She is voiced by Lara Pulver, who also starred alongside James in the 2016 film Underworld: Blood Wars. 

And then we have Illyana or Lady Zerbst, a widow and Vesemir’s young love interest voiced by Mary McDonnell. Finally, famous Outlander actor Graham McTavish voices Deglan, who inspired Vesemir to become a Witcher like himself.

Directed by Kwang Il Han and written by Beau DeMayo, the movie is 81 minutes long. If animated action scenes are your jam, then you should definitely catch the animated movie on Netflix.