The Witcher’s Doug Cockle on Becoming Netflix’s Latest Geralt

Doug Cockle, the iconic voice of Geralt of Rivia in CD Projekt Red's Witcher games, 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 voice he's cultivated over nearly two decades.

His journey began in 2005 with the first Witcher game. Initially, finding the right vocal register for Geralt proved challenging, requiring him to push his voice lower than his natural range. Extended recording sessions of eight to nine hours a day took a toll on his vocal cords, a process he humorously compares to an athlete training their muscles.

The release of Andrzej Sapkowski's books in English significantly impacted his portrayal. Access to the source material provided deeper insight into Geralt's character, clarifying the developers' direction for a more emotionally restrained performance. Cockle particularly enjoyed Season of Storms, expressing a desire to voice Geralt in an adaptation of that novel.

Sirens of the Deep, based on Sapkowski's "A Little Sacrifice," offers a darker twist on The Little Mermaid. While the film features intense action and political intrigue, Cockle appreciates the lighter moments, particularly a humorous exchange between Geralt and Jaskier, showcasing Geralt's less-serious side. He relishes the opportunity to explore the multifaceted nature of the character, highlighting both his gravitas and attempts at humor.

A unique challenge arose with the need to speak Mermaid, a fictional language. While provided with phonetic spellings, Cockle found this aspect unexpectedly difficult.

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Cockle's return to the video game world in The Witcher 4, where Ciri takes center stage, is highly anticipated. He expresses enthusiasm for this shift in perspective, believing it to be a compelling narrative choice. While remaining tight-lipped about specifics, he encourages fans to explore the books for clues. To learn more, check out our interview with the creators of The Witcher 4. Find Doug Cockle on Instagram, Cameo, and X.