Doug Cockle Discusses His Role as Geralt in Netflix's The Witcher

While Henry Cavill may be the most famous actor to have portrayed Geralt of Rivia, he's not the first name that comes to mind for many, especially within the gaming community. Here, Doug Cockle, the voice behind Geralt in CD Projekt Red's critically acclaimed RPG series, is revered as the definitive White Wolf. Recently, the paths of Cavill and Cockle's Geralts have intersected in a unique way, with Cockle lending his iconic voice to Netflix's new animated feature, "The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep."

Although Cockle's Geralt in the animated film differs from his video game counterpart, he was not directed to mimic the mannerisms or voice of Henry Cavill or Liam Hemsworth, who will take over the role in the next season of the live-action series. This creative choice allowed Cockle to maintain the deep, gravelly tones that have defined his Geralt for nearly two decades, ensuring fans hear the voice they've come to love.

Cockle developed this distinctive voice back in 2005 while recording for the first Witcher game. "The most challenging aspect of recording Witcher 1 was finding the right voice," he recalls. "Initially, Geralt's voice was much lower in my register, something I had to really push for." At the time, there were no set guidelines for how long voice actors should record in one session, leading Cockle to endure eight or nine-hour days, which left his throat strained. This struggle persisted into the recording of The Witcher 2, but eventually, his vocal cords adapted, much like an athlete conditioning their muscles.

A significant shift occurred during the development of the second game when English translations of Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher books became available. "The books started coming out in English while I was recording Witcher 2," Cockle explains. "Before that, the developers at CD Projekt Red were my sole source of information about Geralt. As soon as 'The Last Wish' was released in English, I rushed to the bookstore and devoured it. Reading it gave me a deeper understanding of Geralt that I hadn't grasped before."

Cockle notes that the developers emphasized Geralt's emotionless nature, which he initially found challenging as an actor eager to explore emotional depth. However, reading the books helped him understand why a more restrained emotional portrayal was necessary.

Doug Cockle's Geralt appears alongside Joey Batey's Jaskier and other members of the Netflix cast in "The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep." | Image credit: Netflix

Cockle quickly developed a deep appreciation for Sapkowski's writing, drawing parallels with his childhood love for Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings." Among Sapkowski's works, "Season of Storms" left a lasting impression on him, a story he'd love to voice should Netflix revisit it.

"It's a story that's both horrifying and thrilling," he says. "The graphic fight scenes Sapkowski describes would be perfect for an anime or TV adaptation."

Currently, fans can see and hear Cockle's Geralt in "Sirens of the Deep," an animated film based on the short story "A Little Sacrifice" from the "Sword of Destiny" collection. This dark reinterpretation of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" sees Geralt caught between two conflicting kingdoms after a mermaid and a human prince fall in love. Amidst the film's intense action and political intrigue, Cockle appreciates the lighter moments, such as a humorous campfire conversation between Geralt and Jaskier, showcasing the monster hunter's softer, often overlooked side.

"I enjoy exploring all facets of Geralt's personality," Cockle says. "While I appreciate his serious demeanor, I also cherish those moments when he attempts humor, albeit unsuccessfully, because he's just not funny."

The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep Geeked Week 2024 Teaser Stills

7 Images

While much of Cockle's work on "Sirens of the Deep" was familiar, the film presented a unique challenge: speaking in a fictional language, mermaid. "It was really difficult," he admits. "I received phonetic spellings to help me prepare, but performing it was much harder than anticipated."

Cockle's return to the world of video games in "The Witcher 4" should be much smoother. Revealed with an exciting trailer at The Game Awards last year, this upcoming game will feature Geralt as a supporting character, with Ciri taking the lead. Cockle finds this shift in perspective exciting and believes it aligns well with developments in Sapkowski's books.

"I think it's a great move to focus on Ciri," he says. "It opens up new storytelling possibilities, especially given the events in the books. I'm eager to see what CD Projekt Red has in store."

For more on "The Witcher 4," check out our in-depth interview with its creators. And don't miss Doug Cockle's performance in "The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep" on Netflix, or connect with him on Instagram, Cameo, and X.