For months, rumors have been swirling about who Netflix would cast as Geralt's mentor Vesemir in The Witcher season 2. The role was reportedly offered to Michael Keaton and Mads Mikkelsen, and after they passed, the rumor mill pointed to Star Wars actor Mark Hamill being cast. However, it's now been announced that Netflix has cast Danish actor Kim Bodnia as Vesemir in The Witcher season 2.
In its announcement, Netflix stated that Bodnia will play "the Continent's oldest and most experienced Witcher." It remains to be seen just how extensively Vesemir will be featured in The Witcher season 2, as his character was missing from the initial Witcher season 2 character announcement, but one has to imagine that he will be in more than just one or two episodes. Needless to say, it will be interesting to see how Vesemir figures into The Witcher season 2's plot, though fans will have to wait until 2021 to see how it all plays out.
With the reveal that Kim Bodnia is playing Vesemir in The Witcher season 2, it seems all the major roles for the show's second season are now cast - or at least, the ones that fans would be aware of at this stage. The Witcher season 2 has already started filming, so fans shouldn't expect too many more actors to join the show's cast at this point.
For those who are unaware of Kim Bodnia's work, he is an award-winning actor best known for his roles on television series like The Bridge and more recently, Killing Eve. Compared to previously rumored Vesemir actors like Michael Keaton, Mads Mikkelsen, and Mark Hamill, Bodnia isn't nearly as well-known. However, he's a proven performer with decades of experience and will likely do just fine as Vesemir.
Even so, some fans are understandably upset that Mark Hamill was not cast as Vesemir. There has been a fan campaign for Mark Hamill to play Vesemir in The Witcher season 2 for years now, with both Hamill and showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich commenting on it. But while Hamill won't be in The Witcher season 2 as Vesemir, fans can still look forward to him appearing in other Netflix productions, like the upcoming Masters of the Universe reboot.
With The Witcher season 2 not premiering until 2021, fans have some time to wait before they will get to see Bodnia as Vesemir. Hopefully the The Witcher season 2's first trailer gives fans their first look at the character.
The Witcher season 2 premieres in 2021 on Netflix.