Geralt's Voice Actor Comes to Netflix

Doug Cockle, the voice of Geralt in CD Projekt Red's Witcher games, reprises his iconic 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 familiar gravelly tone honed over nearly two decades.

His journey began in 2005, voicing Geralt for the first Witcher game. The deep register proved challenging, requiring eight to nine-hour recording sessions that left his throat raw. However, his vocal chords eventually adapted, much like an athlete's muscles. The release of the English translations of Sapkowski's books during The Witcher 2's development significantly impacted his performance, providing deeper insight into Geralt's character. He initially struggled with the developers' direction to portray Geralt as emotionless, but reading The Last Wish clarified the character's emotional restraint.

Cockle embraced Sapkowski's writing, drawing parallels to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Season of Storms remains a favorite, and he'd relish the opportunity to voice Geralt in an adaptation of that story. Sirens of the Deep, based on "A Little Sacrifice," offers a darker take on The Little Mermaid, with Cockle appreciating the lighter moments, particularly a humorous exchange between Geralt and Jaskier, showcasing Geralt's less-seen softer side.

The anime presented a unique challenge: speaking Mermaid. Cockle found this surprisingly difficult despite phonetic guidance. His return to the video game world in The Witcher 4, where Ciri takes center stage, is eagerly anticipated. He views the shift in perspective as a positive move, aligning with the books' narrative. He remains tight-lipped about specifics but expresses excitement for the new direction. To learn more, check out our interview with The Witcher 4 creators, and find Doug Cockle on Instagram, Cameo, and X.