The Witcher Netflix Series Release Date and Casting Details

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Henry Cavill Cast as Geralt of Rivia
• 2019 Release Year Confirmed
• Doug Cockle Supports Henry Cavill Casting
• Lauren Schmidt Hissrich Explains Casting Decision
• Conclusion and Next Steps

Henry Cavill Cast as Geralt of Rivia in Upcoming Witcher Netflix Series

In exciting news for fans of The Witcher franchise, it was recently announced that actor Henry Cavill has been cast in the role of Geralt of Rivia for the upcoming Netflix adaptation. This immediately sparked a lot of discussion and speculation amongst fans about Cavill's ability to capture the essence of the iconic fantasy character.

The casting choice came as a major surprise, as Cavill does not bear a strong physical resemblance to game protagonist Geralt, nor has he starred heavily in the fantasy genre before. However, showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich explained the reasoning behind the decision in tweets, revealing that Cavill displayed a nuanced understanding of Geralt's complex personality during the audition process.

Initial Fan Reactions to Henry Cavill Casting

The response from Witcher fans has been mixed so far regarding Cavill's casting. Many are excited to see him take on such an intensely physical role that also requires emotional depth. However, some fans have expressed doubts about his acting range or ability to portray Geralt faithfully. Comparisons have been drawn between fan skepticism towards Cavill, and the initial negative response when Heath Ledger was cast as Joker in The Dark Knight. Ledger later delivered an Oscar-winning performance that many regard as the definitive portrayal of the character. As such, some fans are cautiously optimistic that Cavill could also nail the role.

The Witcher Netflix Series Gets 2019 Release Date

Alongside the casting announcement, Netflix also revealed that The Witcher is slated for release in 2019. This surprisingly early release timeline demonstrates Netflix's confidence in the production and has intriguing implications.

An 2019 premiere date means The Witcher series will beat video game sequels like Cyberpunk 2077 to market. This gives Netflix a first-mover advantage in capitalizing on surging interest in dystopian RPG universes amongst fans.

From a production standpoint, confirming the 2019 release gives the cast, crew and showrunners a firm deadline to work towards over the coming year. This is especially noteworthy given the likely substantial CGI requirements to portray locations, exotic creatures, and magic on-screen.

Possibilities Opened Up By 2019 Release Date

Releasing The Witcher series in 2019 opens up exciting possibilities. With Game of Thrones concluding next year, Netflix has an opportunity to capture fantasy fans desperately seeking a replacement. A late 2019 launch, shortly after Thrones ends, would be fortuitously timed. There also appears scope for The Witcher to incorporate next-generation gaming technology like augmented reality filters, mini-games or behind-the-scenes content accessible via smartphone apps. Aligning with gaming releases in 2019 makes cross-promotional opportunities far more viable.

Voice Actor Doug Cockle Supports Henry Cavill Casting

Well-known amongst gaming fans as the voice of Geralt in CD Projekt Red's Witcher trilogy, Doug Cockle shared words of encouragement for Henry Cavill after the casting announcement.

Cockle acknowledged that adaptations require reinventing iconic characters for new mediums, and expressed a belief Cavill possesses sufficient acting chops for the challenge. He compared fan skepticism towards Cavill to initial negative reactions to Heath Ledger's Joker casting.

Doug Cockle: Games vs Books Characterization

Cockle diplomatically worded his comments to highlight how Geralt's portrayal differs across mediums. While the game version most fans are familiar with has been defined largely by Cockle's voice acting, the show will depict Geralt from Andrzej Sapkowski's novels. As such, Cockle's tweet reminds fans that Cavill deserves scope to reinterpret Geralt's rich personality without facing unfair comparisons to the game protagonist. Ultimately, Cockle's tweet conveyed support for Netflix's creative direction for the franchise.

Showrunner Discusses Henry Cavill Casting Rationale

Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich took to Twitter to elaborate on the decision to cast Henry Cavill. She explained that during auditions, Cavill displayed an extremely insightful understanding of the character on psychological levels beyond just replicating his outward persona.

Specifically, Hissrich suggested Cavill grasped Geralt's emotional complexity and vulnerability, not just his physicality or blunt one-liners. Ultimately this nuanced perspective of Geralt's true nature seems to have convinced her that Cavill deserves the lead role despite lacking fantasy credentials.

Conclusion and What This Means for The Witcher Series

The two major announcements of Henry Cavill's casting and the 2019 release date have generated substantial hype for Netflix's upcoming Witcher adaptation. While casting doubts linger in some fan circles, Doug Cockle and Lauren Schmidt Hissrich have helped justify the decision.

With Cavill supported by industry insiders plus the show releasing soon, expectations will be high for Netflix to do justice to Andrzej Sapkowski's dark fantasy franchise. If early indications prove accurate, Cavill could echo Heath Ledger's iconic Joker performance and usher in the next chapter of mainstream popularity for The Witcher universe.

FAQ

Q: When is The Witcher Netflix series being released?
A: The Witcher Netflix series now has a confirmed release year of 2019, much earlier than many fans expected.

Q: Who will play Geralt in the Netflix adaptation?
A: Henry Cavill has been cast in the iconic role of Geralt of Rivia for the Netflix series.

Q: What was the reaction to the Henry Cavill casting news?
A: Reactions ranged from skeptical to excited, but the voice actor Doug Cockle and showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich expressed strong support.

Q: How can fans follow the latest Witcher Netflix news?
A: Be sure to follow the showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich on Twitter for announcements. This YouTube channel also provides updates on major news.

Q: Will the Netflix Geralt be different from the games?
A: Yes, Lauren Schmidt Hissrich has said this will be a fresh interpretation of the character, though still faithful to the books in many ways.

Q: What video games will be streamed on the associated YouTube channel?
A: The channel creator plans to stream the new Spider-Man game very soon after posting this, and will likely stream other new releases later on.

Q: How can fans support this YouTube channel and its creator?
A: Viewers can support via Patreon pledges, YouTube channel subscriptions, Twitch followers, and social media follows.

Q: Where can fans discuss the Netflix series casting news?
A: Discussion can happen in this video's comments, on Reddit communities like r/NetflixWitcher, or the YouTube creator's social channels.

Q: What is the nature of Doug Cockle’s involvement with the Netflix production?
A: As of now Doug Cockle is not officially involved with the Netflix production. He voiced Geralt in the video games only.

Q: What past adaptations demonstrate risky casting can pay off?
A: Heath Ledger's acclaimed performance as Joker in The Dark Knight showed unconventional casting can result in iconic portrayals.