Netflix’s adaptation of The Witcher brings the violence and magic of the Continent to a whole new audience. With so many factions and players in the story’s tapestry to keep track of, we’ve put together a guide to the cast and characters of The Witcher, led by Henry Cavill as mutant monster-hunter Geralt of Rivia.

Based on the books by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher has previously been adapted into a TV show, movies, comics, and - most popular of all - a trilogy of action-adventure video games. Created by Lauren S. Hissrich (The Defenders), Netflix’s The Witcher is based on the original books, though fans can probably expect a few nods to the games as well (like the famous bathtub scene). Set in a rich fantasy world, the story revolves around three key figures: Geralt, as he vainly attempts to steer clear of the Continent’s politics; Yennefer of Vengerberg, a peasant girl with a twisted back who becomes a powerful sorceress; and Cirilla, a young princess with an important destiny.

The first eight episodes of The Witcher introduce many characters that fans of the books and games will be familiar with, like Geralt’s bard friend Jaskier, and Yennefer’s cunning mentor Tissaia de Vries. Here are the people you’ll meet in season 1 of The Witcher, and the actors that play them.

Geralt of Rivia - Henry Cavill

Brutally trained and experimented upon from childhood, Geralt is a witcher - a wandering monster-killer for hire, whose genetic mutations give him enhanced strength, agility, and senses, as well as prolonged life and some magical abilities. Geralt claims to be indifferent to politics and even to notions of good and evil, working for coin rather than honor. However, despite witchers’ reputation for having no emotions, he refuses to kill intelligent creatures (except in self-defense) and has a few other soft spots. Henry Cavill is best known for playing Superman in Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League. He also starred in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and Mission: Impossible - Fallout.

Ciri - Freya Allan

Ciri, whose full name is Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon, is the princess of Cintra and was raised from a young age by her grandmother, Queen Calanthe, and Cintra’s royally-appointed druid, Mousesack. Having grown up in a castle she is initially naive about the world, but shows strength when circumstance forces her into dangerous situations. Ciri has a grand destiny that is somehow linked to Geralt. Freya Allan guest-starred in Into the Badlands and also appeared in the recent BBC miniseries adaptation of War of the Worlds.

Yennefer of Vengerberg - Anya Chalotra

Born with a twisted spine and jaw, Yennefer lives a miserable and mistreated life as the daughter of a pig farmer, until one day she is bought from her father by powerful sorceress Tissaia de Vries. Yennefer’s latent magical abilities win her a place at Aretuza, an academy for training young women to become sorceresses, with the intent to eventually have her placed in a royal court. Yennefer suffers a great deal from the emotional scars of her childhood, and her magic is fuelled by this emotion. Anya Chalotra also appeared in the BBC/Netflix series Wanderlust, and the Hercule Poirot miniseries The ABC Murders.

The Witcher’s Supporting Cast and Characters

  • Eamon Farren as Cahir - Also known as the Black Knight, Cahir is a Nilfgaardian warrior who has been charged with capturing Ciri. Jodhi May as Calanthe - Also known as the Lioness of Cintra, Calanthe is Ciri’s grandmother and a queen who loves the battlefield. Wilson Radjou-Pujalte as Dara - A boy who lives in the woods outside Cintra and befriends Ciri. Josette Simon as Eithne - Leader of the Dryads who live in Brokilon Forest. Shaun Dooley as Foltest - The king of Temeria, who charges Triss Merigold with an important mission. Mimi Ndiweni as Fringilla - One of Yennefer’s fellow sorceresses-in-training. Björn Hlynur Haraldsson as Eist - Calanthe’s second husband and Ciri’s grandfather through that marriage. Royce Pierrson as Istredd - A mage who develops a close relationship with Yennefer. Joey Batey as Jaskier (pictured above) - A womanizing bard who considers himself a close friend of Geralt’s (whether Geralt likes it or not). Adam Levy as Mousesack - Cintra’s royal druid, who helped to raise and protect young Ciri. Emma Appleton as Renfri - An exiled princess whom Geralt meets in the town of Blaviken. Lars Mikkelsen as Stregobor - A devious mage who sits on the Council of Wizards with Tissaia. MyAnna Buring as Tissaia de Vries - A member of the Council of Wizards and one of the rectors of Aretuza, Tissaia is powerful and ruthless. Anna Shaffer as Triss Merigold - A talented witch who crosses paths with Geralt. Mahesh Jadu as Vilgefortz - A powerful warrior mage who leads a fight against Nilfgaard’s army.

More: Netflix’s The Witcher TV Show Almost Starred Ciri Instead Of Geralt