Home / Arts and Entertainment / Witcher Spinoff 'The Rats' Plagued by Production Woes, Rushed Release
Witcher Spinoff 'The Rats' Plagued by Production Woes, Rushed Release
1 Nov
Summary
- Netflix released surprise Witcher spinoff 'The Rats' alongside season 4
- Production issues led to the series being cut from 6-8 episodes to a 92-minute movie
- The rushed framing device and plot fail to impress Witcher fans
In November 2025, Netflix surprised Witcher fans by releasing a standalone spinoff movie, 'The Rats: A Witcher Tale,' alongside the fourth season of the main series. The Rats, a group of thieves that Ciri joins in the books and TV show, were previously thought to be dead. However, the new spinoff explores their backstory in a prequel set six months before the events of season 4.
Unfortunately, the production of 'The Rats' was plagued by issues. According to reports, the initial plan was for a 6-8 episode series, but Netflix executives cut it down to a 92-minute movie after reviewing the footage. An unnamed Netflix insider described the behind-the-scenes as a "disaster" where "everything went wrong."
The rushed nature of the project is evident in the final product. The spinoff opens with a framing device where the villainous Leo Bonhart tells Ciri the story, despite him having minimal involvement in the actual events. This clumsy attempt to justify the prequel's placement after season 4 fails to convince viewers.
