Netflix Pulls a Fast One: Witcher Spinoff Released with Dolph Lundgren as the Witcher

Alongside the fourth season of The Witcher, the platform released the feature film The Rats: A Witcher Tale.

On October 30, Netflix staged a double premiere. The fourth season of The Witcher arrived not alone — quietly paired with it was the spin-off The Rats: A Witcher Tale, which focuses on the Border Rats gang.

The release occurred with no fanfare, lending credence to rumors about the project’s troubled production. Originally conceived as a limited series within The Witcher universe, The Rats encountered difficulties during filming, and the footage was ultimately assembled into a feature-length film.

The story follows six young criminals attempting a bold heist who must place their trust in one another — and in a former witcher. Netflix notes the film’s events take place before the fourth season, though the project’s page recommends watching it after the new episodes.

The runtime is 1 hour and 22 minutes. The film carries a TV‑MA rating — intended for mature audiences — due to graphic violence and pervasive coarse language.

Directed by Mairzi Almas (The Sandman), the screenplay was written by Hailey Hall and Lauren Schmidt Hissrich. The cast includes Ben Radcliffe (Giseler), Kristel Elvin (Mistle), Fabian McCallum (Kailey), Eggy K. Adams (Iskra), Julietta Alexandra (Reef) and Connor Crawford (Asse). Also appearing is ’90s action star Dolph Lundgren, who plays Bregen — a witcher of the Cat School.

Source: iXBT.games