Netflix's New Geralt: Doug Cockle's Rise as Witcher

Doug Cockle, the iconic voice of Geralt of Rivia in the acclaimed Witcher video game series, reprises his role in Netflix's animated film, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep. Unlike the live-action series, Cockle's performance wasn't adjusted to match Henry Cavill or Liam Hemsworth's portrayals, allowing him to maintain the distinctive gravelly voice he perfected over nearly two decades.

Cockle recalls the challenges of creating Geralt's voice for the first Witcher game in 2005, spending long hours pushing his vocal range and enduring significant throat strain. His vocal cords eventually adapted, a process he humorously compares to an athlete's training. The release of the English translations of Andrzej Sapkowski's books significantly impacted his performance, providing deeper insight into Geralt's character and emotional range. He particularly enjoyed Season of Storms, suggesting it as ideal material for future Witcher adaptations.

Cockle appreciates both Geralt's serious and humorous sides, highlighting a campfire scene with Jaskier in Sirens of the Deep as a perfect example of the character's lighter moments. The film, based on the short story "A Little Sacrifice," presents a dark twist on The Little Mermaid, with Geralt embroiled in a conflict between kingdoms. However, a unique challenge arose: Cockle had to learn a fictional mermaid language, finding the experience more demanding than anticipated.

Cockle's return to the video game world in The Witcher 4, where Ciri takes the protagonist role, is highly anticipated. He expresses excitement about this shift in perspective, believing it's a natural progression based on the books' storyline. While remaining tight-lipped about specifics, he encourages fans to read Sapkowski's work for further insight.

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To learn more, check out our interview with the creators of The Witcher 4. You can also find Doug Cockle on Instagram, Cameo, and X. Watch The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep on Netflix.