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 portrayal, allowing him to maintain the distinctive gravelly voice he's cultivated over nearly two decades.
The creation of this voice presented initial challenges. During the recording of the first Witcher game in 2005, Cockle pushed his vocal range, resulting in significant throat strain after eight to nine-hour recording sessions. However, his vocal chords adapted over time, a process he humorously compares to an athlete's training.
The release of Andrzej Sapkowski's books in English significantly impacted Cockle's performance in The Witcher 2. Reading The Last Wish provided him with a deeper understanding of Geralt's character, clarifying the developers' direction towards a more emotionally restrained portrayal. Cockle, however, found ways to subtly incorporate emotion into his performance. He particularly enjoyed the opportunity to portray Geralt's lighter moments, showcasing the character's less serious side. His favorite book in the series is Season of Storms, which he believes would translate well into an anime or TV episode.
The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, based on the short story "A Little Sacrifice," presents a unique challenge for Cockle: speaking Mermaid. He found learning the fictional language surprisingly difficult, despite receiving phonetic spellings.
Looking ahead, Cockle will return to the video game world in The Witcher 4, where Geralt will have a supporting role, allowing Ciri to take center stage. He expresses excitement about this shift in perspective, highlighting the potential for compelling storytelling based on events in the books. He remains tight-lipped about specifics, but enthusiastic about the direction of the new game.
7 Images
To learn more, check out our interview with the creators of The Witcher 4. You can also find Doug Cockle on Instagram, Cameo, and X.
