Doug Cockle Discusses Voicing Geralt for Netflix's Witcher

While Henry Cavill is widely recognized for portraying Geralt of Rivia, he isn't the first name that springs to mind for many in the gaming community. That honor goes to Doug Cockle, the voice behind Geralt in CD Projekt Red's critically acclaimed series of RPGs. Now, the paths of Cavill and Cockle's Geralts have converged, as Cockle lends his iconic voice to the character in Netflix's new animated movie, "The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep."

Although Cockle isn't voicing the same Geralt from the games, he was not asked to adjust his performance to mimic Henry Cavill or Liam Hemsworth, who will take over the role in the next season of the live-action series. This allowed Cockle to utilize the same method and approach that has given Geralt his distinctive, gravelly tone. Fans will thus hear the same voice they've loved for nearly two decades.

Cockle developed this voice back in 2005 during the recording of the first Witcher game. "The biggest challenge in recording Witcher 1 was finding the right voice," he recalls. "Initially, Geralt's voice was extremely low in my register, something I had to really push for."

At the time, there were no clear guidelines on how long voice actors should record in a single session, leading Cockle to work eight or nine hours a day. "I would return to my hotel feeling like my throat was shredded," he says. This challenge persisted into the recording of The Witcher 2, but eventually, Cockle's vocal cords adapted to the demands—much like an athlete's muscles conditioning over time.

A significant shift occurred during the development of the second game when the books began to be translated into English. "I was learning about Geralt from the developers at CD Projekt Red until the books came out," Cockle explains. "Once 'The Last Wish' was available in English, I rushed to the bookstore, bought it, and devoured it. Reading it gave me a deeper understanding of Geralt's character."

"The developers kept emphasizing that he was emotionless," Cockle notes. "As an actor, I wanted to explore emotions, but the book helped me understand why they wanted him to have a flat emotional life."

Cockle quickly became enamored with the books, praising author Andrzej Sapkowski's storytelling. Having grown up with Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," he connected deeply with this new fantasy universe. Of all Sapkowski's works, "Season of Storms" left a lasting impression, and Cockle would love to voice Geralt in an adaptation of this story if given the chance.

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

Currently, Cockle's Geralt can be seen and heard in "Sirens of the Deep," Netflix's latest animated Witcher adventure, based on the short story "A Little Sacrifice" from the "Sword of Destiny" collection. This tale offers a dark twist on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid," with Geralt caught between two conflicting kingdoms. While the movie features intense action and political drama, Cockle is particularly drawn to its lighter moments, such as a humorous exchange between Geralt and Jaskier by a campfire, highlighting Geralt's often overlooked softer side.

"As an actor, I enjoy exploring all facets of a character's personality," Cockle explains. "I appreciate Geralt's seriousness, but I also cherish those moments when he attempts humor, even if he's not particularly successful at it."

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While much of Cockle's work on "Sirens of the Deep" was straightforward, using a voice he's mastered over the years, the project presented a unique challenge: speaking a fictional language, mermaid. "It was difficult," he admits. "I was given phonetic spellings to help me get familiar with it, but performing it was much harder than I anticipated."

Cockle will soon return to the world of video games with "The Witcher 4," unveiled at The Game Awards last year. Returning to his original Geralt will feel like slipping into comfortable old shoes. This time, however, Geralt will be a supporting character, with Ciri taking the lead.

Cockle remains tight-lipped about "The Witcher 4," claiming to know only as much as the public. However, he's excited about the new direction the story is taking, focusing on Ciri. "Shifting the perspective to Ciri is a smart move," he says. "It aligns well with the events in the books, which I won't spoil, but it's certainly exciting. I'm eager to see what CD Projekt Red has in store."

For more details on CD Projekt Red's plans, check out our in-depth interview with the creators of "The Witcher 4." To see more of Doug Cockle, watch "The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep" on Netflix, or follow him on Instagram, Cameo, and X.