Netflix made quite a few announcements for its TUDUM event this past week, many of which were centered around the company’s live-action The Witcher series. Along with official confirmations of The Witcher season 3 and a second animated film, it was also announced that The Witcher is getting a spin-off series aimed towards families and younger audiences. Unfortunately, the announcement brought about some criticism for the newly revealed spin-off series.

Since the initial announcement of the “Kids and Family’ series there has been some criticism leveled against Netflix for taking a franchise that typically caters to mature audiences and “defanging” it for children. In response, showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich has released a statement suggesting that providing an easier entry point for a younger audience will better prepare them for important life lessons told via the franchise’s various mediums. “The Witcher is a dark, mature universe. I’d go further. It’s controversial. Political. A microcosm of humanity, for all its goodness and evil,” Hissrich said on Twitter. “But I believe — STRONGLY believe — that the moral dilemmas and ethical grayness that adults love in this universe — can be extrapolated to stories that kids in this chaotic world desperately need, and could benefit from.”

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

Hissrich goes on to use her own children as examples of kids that are currently too young for the content shown in the main live-action The Witcher series. “If I can sit with them and watch a version they love, one they can laugh at, one they feel ‘gets them’ and their small but meaningful place in the world,” Hissrich writes, “but that can also serve as a foundation from which to talk about big topics, racism, sexism, what it means to be a monster? And how we can fight back against those bleak black holes of humanity, so everyone knows there’s a place for them? Then I’m in.”

The Witcher’s “Kids and Family” spin-off series is currently in development. Season 2 of the main live-action series is slated to debut on December 17, 2021.

Thoughts on Hissrich’s commentary regarding the new spin-off series? Let us know in the comments section below, and as always, stay tuned to Don’t Feed the Gamers for all the latest gaming and entertainment news! Don’t forget to follow DFTG on Twitter for our 24/7 news feed!