Netflix has finally answered a long-awaited question in The Witcher universe: how The Rats formed and what truly set their deadly conflict with Leo Bonhart. The new prequel movie, The Rats: A Witcher Tale, dropped quietly on Netflix on October 30, 2025. But it delivers the major origin of the gang that becomes central to Ciri’s journey (via Tudum).
The movie explains Mistle’s past and the fate of her lover Juniper. It reveals the exact event that places Bonhart on the Rats’ trail long before their tragic end in Season 4.
What Is The Rats: A Witcher Tale About?
The Rats: A Witcher Tale is an 80-minute prequel that takes place just before the Rats meet Ciri. It follows Mistle, Asse, Giselher, Iskra, Kayleigh, and Reef as they try to survive the trouble caused by Emhyr’s siege of the empire. Each of them has lost something, and the movie shows how their shared trauma forms the tight-knit group.
The movie centers on a heist at a violent fighting arena run by Dominik Houvenaghel. The Rats plan to steal the money Brigden has been skimming from the arena. The mission goes awry, leading to the tragedy. This mission forces Mistle to confront her past when she discovers the truth about her lover, Juniper.
The movie also features Brehen, a Witcher from the Cat School. He joins the Rats for the heist and later sacrifices himself to stop Bonhart. His final act reveals how Bonhart discovers the Rats and why he becomes determined to hunt them. The movie ends with Bonhart telling the story to Ciri, linking the prequel directly to her capture in Season 4.
Why The Rats: A Witcher Tale Struggled With Reception?
Mistle in The Rats: A Witcher Tale | Credit: Netflix
Even though the prequel answers long-standing questions, it struggled with reception. The movie holds a 19% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
One reason could be the movie’s quiet release. Netflix promoted it very little, likely due to declining interest in the franchise after Geralt’s recasting from Henry Cavill to Liam Hemsworth. Another reason could be previous mixed reactions to other spin-offs. Many fans did not even know the prequel existed.
Production issues also played a major part. The project was originally planned as a multi-episode limited series. After early filming raised concerns, it was cut down into a single movie. This change caused pacing issues and limited the character development that a full series could have offered.
Some viewers also felt the movie softened the Rats compared to their darker book versions. This made them feel less complex and reduced the impact of their tragic storyline.
In the end, The Rats: A Witcher Tale finally gives a clear origin for The Rats. It fills an important gap in Ciri’s story, even if the reception has been mixed.
Movie NameThe Rats: A Witcher TaleRelease DateOctober 30, 2025Creator Lauren Schmidt HissrichMain CastChristelle Elwin, Connor Crawford, Ben Radcliffe, Aggy K. Adams, Fabian McCallum, Juliette Alexandra. IMDb4.8/10Rotten Tomatoes (Popcornmeter)19%
Do you think this prequel gave the much-needed answers to The Witcher series? Let us know your thoughts.
The Witcher and The Rats: A Witcher Tale are available to stream on Netflix (US).
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