Netflix has reportedly found its King Henselt for the second season of their hit Witcher series, according to ComicBook. Edward Rowe (Mal, An Tarrow) will be stepping into the role of Henselt. The character King Henselt features in both the video game universe as well as the novels. Henselt is the quick tempered and avaricious king of a region up north known as Kaedwen.
Both iterations that fans have seen of the king paint him as battle hardened and practiced leader, but one that lacks a moral compass. He knows how to handle an army and is passionate about siege machinery and tactics but in the video game Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings he sexually abuses one of Geralt’s comrades named Ves and uses his power to manipulate others. This begs the question as to how large of a role Henselt will have in season two and what fans can expect from him in the meantime.
Henselt is also known in the Witcher lore to have deadly run ins with the rebel group known as the Squirrels. A group of non-human guerilla fighters that attack war camps, caravans, and other invasive forces that impose their will upon the established citizenry. Henselt despises all non-human races and attempts to destroy their way of life every chance he gets. Fans will be interested to see how Showrunner Lauren Hissrich (Writer, West Wing) handles Geralt’s (Henry Cavill, Man of Steel) introduction to King Henselt and what draws the two of them together in the narrative.
Without a set premiere date and The Witcher being pushed back time and time again due to Cavill’s unfortunate injury and COVID-19 there’s no way to know when Netflix will release the next installment of The Witcher. However, considering the casting of King Henselt and the mention of Kaer Morhen, fans can rest assured that this upcoming season will be momentous.