Geralt Actor Dismisses 'Woke' Claims About Ciri in The Witcher 4

Doug Cockle, the iconic voice behind Geralt in The Witcher series, has strongly responded to the backlash against The Witcher 4's focus on Ciri. He dismissed the criticism as "stupid" and urged detractors to "read the damn books" by Andrzej Sapkowski, emphasizing that the choice to feature Ciri as the protagonist is rooted in the original novels.

In a video by Fall Damage, Cockle clarified that the decision to center the next game around Ciri is far from being "woke." He praised Ciri as a "cool character" and expressed enthusiasm about exploring her story further, noting that her potential was not fully tapped in The Witcher 3 due to the focus on Geralt.

Cockle will reprise his role as Geralt in The Witcher 4, though not as the main character. He argued that Geralt's journey, which concluded with Blood and Wine, should not be stretched indefinitely. Instead, he celebrated the shift to Ciri, suggesting that her narrative offers a rich new avenue for the series.

The decision to spotlight Ciri has sparked controversy among a vocal minority online, accusing the series of going "woke." Cockle dismissed these claims, asserting that those who criticize should delve into Sapkowski's books to better understand the direction CD Projekt is taking.

The Witcher 4 is set in a timeline following the events of Sapkowski's novels, and while the author has distanced his work from the games, both he and CD Projekt recognize Ciri's significance. This aligns with the lore, as Ciri's character is pivotal and ready to take the lead when Geralt steps back.

For those interested in the lore and timeline, IGN has previously covered discussions with CD Projekt's franchise and lore designers, Cian Maher and Marcin Batylda, who explained how the narrative choices fit within the established universe.

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