Netflix released a new teaser trailer for The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, which came alongside the announcement of the main voice cast and a bundle of character images to match. The most eye-catching image in the mix is definitely Vesemir’s character shot – and not just because of the adventurer’s attractive character design. The burly-chested Witcher is shown enjoying a bubble bath with a goblet of wine and pipe in hand.
Giving a glimpse of Vesemir bathing is more than just a way to arouse fans’ interest in Nightmare of the Wolf – it’s also a nod to a running gag in The Witcher franchise. Stemming from Geralt’s infamous bathtub scene from the video games, the bathing Witcher has become a meme that has carried into Netflix’s live-action The Witcher adaptation, and now – apparently – Nightmare of the Wolf.
The History of Bathtub Geralt
The iconic Witcher bathtub moment first happened in the opening sequence of The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt, which was released in 2015. With his arms and legs hanging over the sides of a steaming tub, the nude Geralt blissfully relaxes his muscles in the hot water – that is until his fiery lover Yennifer pranks him with a fake crawly creature snapping at his junk. The disturbed witcher finally leaves the tub as she wishes and they share an inmate moment. While the amusing scene doesn’t last long, the image was thoroughly imprinted into the memory of the fandom.
With some fans disliking the bathtub scene and others finding it a good way to troll, the image of Geralt in a tub kept circulating the internet until it garnered Rickroll-status notoriety. The Witcher video game producers at CD Projekt even made figurines of the silly bathtub shot to capture its ubiquity.
Witcher bathtub scenes may have become a popular meme, but they’re also a treat for thirsty fans. There’s been a long history of scantily dressed women in video games, so it feels like a kind of compensation to have the ravishing hero bare some skin.
How the Netflix Witcher Series Homaged the Steamy Meme
Though Netflix's Witcher adaptation is based on Andrzej Sapkowski's many novels and short stories, the show does throw a bone to those who’ve played the Witcher video game trilogy by including scenes of Geralt and Yennifer in the bathtub.
Henry Cavil admirers couldn’t help but swoon as the chiseled actor soaked in the tub on screen as he portrayed Geralt, a knowing gesture by showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich. “We see you too. We know you're here,” Hissrich assured video game fans. An avid gamer himself, Cavil was thrilled to throw a wink at fellow fans by lounging in the meme-worthy bathtub.
Nightmare of the Wolf's Bathtub Vesemir Will Carry the Torch
After the fans relished in Netflix’s generous bathtub content, it seems the tradition is set to continue in the upcoming animated film The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf. The new Witcher story is set before Geralt’s time as a hunter, but the film will introduce more eye candy in the form of the strapping young Witcher Vesemir. The charming swashbuckler eventually becomes Geralt’s trusted mentor and father figure, but his Nightmare of the Wolf will show his journey before he takes on this role.
From the teaser trailer alone, it’s easy to say young Vesemir will give Geralt a run for his money in the hunk department, especially considering how he looks as he’s living it up in a bathtub of his own. It doesn’t help that the studly Vesemir is voiced by Theo James, who’s played love interest roles many a time in live-action media, such as the heartthrob Four in the Divergent series, as well as the handsome love interest Sidney Parker in the period drama Sanditon. His dreamy voice, met with sexy Bathtub Vesemir, is undoubtedly going to inspire much blushing among viewers.
Bathtub Vesemir will make his debut in The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf on Netflix August 23.
