Netflix’s television adaptation of The Witcher novels-turned-video-games now has a release date. In a new trailer for the epic series, the streaming giant has announced that it will be released on December 20th.

The Witcher is set in a kind of parallel universe where monsters roam freely and the stuff of fairytales is very real, albeit with a few warped and twisted departures from the children’s stories most are used to. The epidemic of demonic beasts and spectres across the land has given rise to a race called Witchers — a class of chemically mutated monster slayers who rid the land of particularly troublesome beasts… for a price. The story’s protagonist, Geralt of Rivia, is one of these Witchers who comes to find himself at odds with forces far greater than he could have imagined. The original novels come from Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, and are meant to retell parts of Polish history through the fantasy genre.

The series adaptation is being helmed by showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich (The Umbrella Academy, Daredevil). It stars Henry Cavill (Man of Steel, The Tudors) in the role of Geralt. He is joined in the cast by Anya Chalotra (Wanderlust) who plays Yennifer of Vengerberg, a sorceress and Geralt’s love interest. Finally, Freya Allan (War of the Worlds) will play Ciri, a young girl with mysterious powers who seeks out Geralt for aid.

The trailer provides a glimpse of the high production value with which the show is made, providing flashes of epic battle scenes, magic, and monsters alike. It also delves into the overtones of racial prejudice — in this instance, against elves, dwarves, Withcers, and a slew of other beings — featured in The Witcher novels and video games. Over footage of Geralt being pelted by rocks courtesy of a mob of townspeople, a female character says to him, “People call you a monster too. Why not kill them?”

Geralt’s response: “Because then I am what they say I am.”

The Witcher debuts on December 20th on Netflix.

Photo credit: Raymond Flotat