Netflix has released a song from The Witcher Season 3 Volume 2 that seemingly sets up the long-awaited anime film sequel.
As reported by Redanian Intelligence, a ballad called A Little Sacrifice was released on YouTube that is sung by Ciri (Freya Allen) in the upcoming Season 3 episodes. What's unusual is the story of the song though, as the lyrics aren't at all related to what we know is coming.
Instead, the song is based on a short story of the same name that appears in Andrzej Sapkowski's The Sword of Destiny, the second Witcher book. In it, Geralt and Dandelion (Jaskier in the Netflix show) meet another bard called Essi Daven and the three mediate a lover's quarrel between a prince and a mermaid.
"The prince did sit aside the sea, blushing with his siren," sings Allen. "At lengths did they try to agree, who'd forfeit their environ."
As these lyrics have nothing to do with the current events of the show (as the story takes place 20 years beforehand), speculation has turned elsewhere in The Witcher's extended Netflix universe, to the anime film sequel in particular.
Netflix announced another animated film, to join the Vesemir-led Nightmare of the Wolf, in September 2021 but hasn't said a thing since. Rumours behind the scenes have added up to the film being called Sirens of the Deep, however, and based on the exact short story referenced in this new song.
Toss a coin to our growing Witcher universe! We can officially announce The Witcher Season 3, along with a second anime feature film, and a new Kids and Family series set in the world of The Witcher. pic.twitter.com/E032fDAXYx
— The Witcher (@witchernetflix) September 25, 2021
Netflix is yet to say anything official, of course, but it did align the appearance of Vesemir in Season 2 of The Witcher with the premiere of the first animated film, so it could also be setting up a full reveal of the second anime with this song.
A Little Sacrifice is otherwise considered among the best Witcher short stories, despite it not featuring some mainstay characters like Yennefer or Ciri. The story is completely self-contained, similar to the one told in Nightmare of the Wolf, which also lends itself to a Netflix film adaptation.
Fans can hear the song for themselves in Volume 2 of Season 3 which debuts on Netflix on July 27. It'll also be Henry Cavill's final appearance as Geralt of Rivia, with Liam Hemsworth taking over the role from Season 4.
The Witcher producers are teasing a "meta" transition between the two, seemingly teasing some sort of multiverse, but insist it'll be true to the books.
In our 7/10 review of Season 3 Volume 1, IGN said: "The Witcher is back and more complex than ever, but its dry approach to courtly intrigue and prophecy stalls its few true instances of fantasy fun."
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
