While Henry Cavill may be the most recognizable face to portray Geralt of Rivia, within the gaming community, Doug Cockle is revered as the quintessential voice of the White Wolf, having brought Geralt to life in CD Projekt Red's acclaimed RPG series. Now, fans are thrilled as Cockle's iconic voice merges with the Netflix universe in the animated film, "The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep."
Although Cockle's role in the animated movie isn't the same Geralt from the games, he was not asked to mimic Henry Cavill or Liam Hemsworth's portrayal. This allowed him to retain the distinctive, gravelly voice that has defined Geralt for nearly two decades. Fans will recognize the same beloved tones they've come to know since Cockle first crafted them in 2005 for the original Witcher game.
Crafting that voice was a challenge for Cockle, who spent long hours recording the initial game. "The thing I found most challenging about recording Witcher 1 was the voice itself," he reflects. "When I started, Geralt's voice was very deep, something I had to really push for." The extended recording sessions took a toll on his throat, but by the time he worked on The Witcher 2, his vocal cords had adapted, much like an athlete's muscles conditioning over time.
As English translations of Andrzej Sapkowski's books became available during the recording of The Witcher 2, Cockle immersed himself in the source material. "As soon as The Last Wish came out in English, I tore through it," he says. Reading the books provided him with deeper insights into Geralt's character, beyond what he had learned from the developers at CD Projekt Red. "The developers kept saying, 'He's emotionless'," Cockle recalls, "but I better understood from the book why they were pushing for a flat emotional life for him."
Cockle's appreciation for Sapkowski's writing grew, especially with novels like "Season of Storms," which he hopes could be adapted into an anime or TV episode. "It's one of those stories that when I read it, I was like, 'Oh, this is horrible. This is awful.' [But] it's thrilling at the same time," he shares, highlighting the potential for gripping, graphic fight scenes.
In "The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep," based on the short story "A Little Sacrifice" from the "Sword of Destiny" collection, Cockle's Geralt navigates a dark tale inspired by "The Little Mermaid." Amidst the action and political drama, Cockle appreciates the lighter moments, like a humorous campfire conversation between Geralt and Jaskier. These scenes showcase a softer, often overlooked aspect of Geralt's personality. "I enjoy the gravitas of Geralt when he's all serious and mopey," Cockle says, "but I do also like those moments when he's trying to be light."
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While recording for "Sirens of the Deep," Cockle faced a unique challenge: speaking in the fictional language of mermaids. "I found doing this really difficult," he admits, having to rely on phonetic spellings to master the new tongue.
Looking ahead, Cockle is set to return as Geralt in "The Witcher 4," where he'll support the new protagonist, Ciri. He views this shift as a positive move, aligning with developments in Sapkowski's books. "I think it's a really good move," he says, encouraging fans to delve into the novels to understand the narrative shifts better.
For more insights into CD Projekt Red's plans for "The Witcher 4," check out our detailed interview with its creators. And 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.
