Not too long ago, Netflix's The Witcher revealed an extensive cast for its upcoming season 2, but there was one name left off: Vesemir. Reports indicated that the role was offered to Michael Keaton and Mads Mikkelsen, with both actors supposedly passing up the role, and that left many still hoping for Mark Hamill. However, Netflix has now confirmed who will be playing the old Witcher, and it's a surprising one: Kim Bodnia.
Bodnia has the acting chops to pull off an excellent Vesemir, but he's not a big name that many will immediately recognize. Therefore, for those curious as to who will be playing him in The Witcher season 2, here's a quick look at Bodnia's long-running career.
Who is Vesemir?
Before moving forward, it's worth detailing the character he will be playing in The Witcher. Vesemir, as many fans will know, is the oldest Witcher at Kaer Morhen, a location and character heavily hinted for the next season in The Witcher's final episode. He was a fencing instructor prior to the assault on Kaer Morhen, leaving him as one of the only surviving Witchers from the School of the Wolf. Because he was an instructor, he doesn't know how to make more Witchers, instead filling in as a father figure to Geralt, Lambert, Eskel, and eventually, even Ciri.
His role and relationship to the other characters cannot be understated, as he perhaps follows only Geralt as one of the most popular Witchers in the franchise, and it's clear that fan expectations for his portrayal in The Witcher season 2 were high. Enter Kim Bodnia.
Who is Kim Bodnia?
Simply put, he's a Danish actor, writer, and director perhaps most known for his roles as detective Martin Rohde in The Bridge, Frank in Nicolas Winding Refn's Pusher, and most recently, Konstantin Vasiliev in Killing Eve. He's been acting roughly since he was 16, joining the Danish National School of Theatre and Contemporary Dance in 1987.
His film debut was just two years later in 1989 as a bouncer in An Abyss of Freedom, later appearing as Patrick Bateman in a stage version of American Psycho. Around this time, he was also typecast as violent characters, something antithetical to Vesemir's nature in the Witcher. That's not the extent of his acting, of course, so fans may not need to worry about his taking this role.
His first leading role was in Bulldozer in 1993, and his breakout role was in a horrorfilm known as Nightwatch. Many of these films may be unfamiliar to American audiences, which is actually a boon for The Witcher. Despite the show's wide appeal, many of the actors aside from Henry Cavill may be unfamilar to American audiences, and this has a way of bringing these characters to life independently. For example, while many would love to see Mark Hamill as Vesemir, there's no doubt that there would be many-a-eye comparing his role to that of Luke Skywalker.
Bodnia's filmography dates all the way back to 1989, where he has appeared in 50 different movies, tv series, and more. It remains to be seen how Bodnia brings Vesemir to life, but fans unfamiliar with the name needn't be worried. Bodnia's career speaks for itself, and so many should just wait for the Witcher's season 2 release date.
The Witcher season 2 is in development.