Doug Cockle Talks Voicing Geralt in Netflix's The Witcher

While Henry Cavill may be the most recognized actor to portray Geralt of Rivia, within the gaming community, Doug Cockle is revered as the definitive voice of the character from CD Projekt Red's acclaimed RPG series. Recently, the worlds of Cavill and Cockle's Geralts have intertwined, with Cockle lending his iconic voice to the character in Netflix's new animated feature, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep.

In this project, Cockle does not play the same Geralt from the video games but was encouraged to maintain his well-known vocal style rather than mimic Cavill's or Liam Hemsworth's interpretations. This allowed Cockle to utilize the same technique that has defined his portrayal of Geralt for nearly two decades, ensuring fans hear the familiar, gravelly tones they've come to love.

Cockle developed this distinctive voice during the recording of the first Witcher game in 2005. He found the challenge of maintaining such a low register voice particularly demanding, often pushing his vocal limits. Initially, long recording sessions left his throat strained, but over time, his vocal cords adapted, much like an athlete conditioning their body.

While working on The Witcher 2, Cockle's understanding of Geralt deepened with the English release of Andrzej Sapkowski's books, starting with The Last Wish. This gave him a richer insight into the character, beyond the initial guidance from the developers at CD Projekt Red who described Geralt as emotionless. Reading the books allowed Cockle to appreciate the subtleties of Geralt's character, influencing his performance to reflect a nuanced emotional range.

Cockle's appreciation for Sapkowski's writing deepened his connection to the fantasy world, reminiscent of his early influences from Tolkien. Among Sapkowski's works, Season of Storms stands out as a favorite, and Cockle expresses enthusiasm about potentially voicing Geralt in a future adaptation of this story, citing its thrilling and graphic nature.

In The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, based on the short story "A Little Sacrifice" from Sword of Destiny, Cockle's Geralt navigates a conflict between two kingdoms following a romantic entanglement between a mermaid and a human prince. While the film offers intense action and political intrigue, Cockle appreciates the lighter moments that reveal Geralt's softer side, such as a humorous exchange with Jaskier around a campfire. These scenes highlight the complexity of Geralt's character, showcasing his attempts at humor, albeit often unsuccessfully.

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7 ImagesDespite being well-versed in voicing Geralt, Sirens of the Deep presented a unique challenge for Cockle: speaking a fictional language, that of the mermaids. He found this task particularly difficult, despite being provided with phonetic spellings to help him prepare.

Looking ahead, Cockle will return to the world of video games with The Witcher 4, where Geralt will take on a supporting role to Ciri. This shift in focus excites Cockle, who believes it aligns well with developments in Sapkowski's novels. He looks forward to seeing how CD Projekt Red evolves the story, though he remains tight-lipped about details, knowing only as much as the public.

For more insights into CD Projekt Red's plans, explore our detailed interview with the creators of The Witcher 4. To experience more of Doug Cockle's work, watch The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep on Netflix, or connect with him on social media platforms like Instagram, Cameo, and X.