The Witcher: Blood Origin Trailer: An Old Friend Joins The Prequel Party

Henry Cavill may be exiting Netflix's "Witcher" franchise, but there are lots of other faces ready to flesh out this fantasy universe — and I'm not talking about teen heartthrob Gale Hawthorne. Prequel series "The Witcher: Blood Origin" is set to debut later this month with a star-studded cast and a particularly action-ready headliner at the helm. I'm happy to report that Michelle Yeoh is wielding a sword in the latest trailer for the upcoming series, which means it's time to cancel your holiday plans and prepare for a four-part binge on Christmas day!

Created by "The Witcher" writer Declan de Barra, "Blood Origin" takes place 1,200 years before Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri come together. Instead, we follow seven strangers who join together against an unstoppable empire. Their journey will not only lead to the creation of the very first Witcher, but will also reveal more about the Conjunction of the Spheres, a crucial event in which the worlds of monsters, humans, and elves were all merged into one. Every story has a beginning, and this is what paves the way for the version of the Continent seen in "The Witcher."

Audiences just can't get enough of lore-laden prequel series about their favorite fantasy worlds! The same year that brought us "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" and "House of the Dragon" will now conclude with "Blood Origin." Can this series keep the trend of success going? I'm not gonna lie — based on the look of the trailer and the very familiar face that pops in at the end, the hype feels very real.

Instead of tossing a coin to your witcher, spare some gold for everyone's favorite traveling bard: Jaskier! Despite the limits of time and logic, it looks like Joey Batey will be delivering a new tune or two in the prequel series because Jaskier is called upon at the end of the trailer. Naturally, he's covered in grime and looks vaguely alarmed by what's being asked of him — the more things change, the more they stay the same. Batey will be joined by Minnie Driver, who plays Seanchaí, a shape-shifting storyteller who guides us through the lore. Together, they'll serve as conduits for the seven warriors at the center of this story.

While these two serve as narrators, the real adventurers are in the past. Sophia Brown and Laurence O'Fuarain play Éile and Fjall, two warriors estranged from their opposing clans, who must learn to trust one another if they hope to topple the Continent's oppressors. They're joined by Yeoh as Scían, a nomadic sword master and the last of her tribe, Mirren Mack as Princess Merwyn, Lenny Henry as Chief Sage Balor, Francesca Mills as Meldof, and Zach Wyatt and Lizzie Annis as celestial twin sages, Syndril and Zacaré.

"The Witcher: Blood Origin" is a four-part series that premieres December 25, 2022, on Netflix.

Taking place in the elven Golden Era, 1200 years before the time of Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri, The Witcher: Blood Origin tells the story of seven strangers who join together to fight an unstoppable empire. Though they hail from warring clans, Éile and Fjall must learn to trust one another if they have any hope of leading this band of outcasts on their quest to topple the Continent's oppressors. But, when gateways to other worlds are opened and a power-hungry sage unleashes a new weapon, the Seven realize they must create a monster in order to defeat one.