The Witcher was once one of the most-watched Netflix Fantasy shows. Thanks to its already-established fan base due to the novel series and video game, the series became one of the most popular ones all over the world. And in Henry Cavill, the fans found the perfect Geralt of Rivia.
Despite the show’s immense popularity, die-hard fans of the show pointed out how often the storyline deviates from the books’. Even the author has expressed his disappointment over the ill adaptation. But The Witcher showrunner is not deterred by the negative reviews and remarks.
The Witcher Showrunner Refused To Hire ‘Purist’ Writers
Ever since Henry Cavill‘s departure from The Witcher, fans have been brutal in their opinions to say that they would be discontinuing watching the show. The reason being the show’s obvious deviation from the original storyline and its re-imagining of several of the beloved characters. Even after a negative response from the fans and the writer Andrej Sapkowski himself, the showrunner Lauren S Hissrich has little to no care. She once revealed in an interview how it wasn’t a necessity for writers to be fans or purists of The Witcher books and the game like Henry Cavill is.
“The writers and staff on The Witcher had to read all of the books, and had to appreciate/enjoy the genre. But I specifically didn’t seek out ten Sapkowski scholars. Instead, I found several writers who were intimately familiar with the characters and themes and politics of the Continent. Some grew up with these stories and provided rich detail and insight into not just the books, but the history behind them.”
She then added that no novel can be righteously and literally adapted to the TV screen,
“In simplest form, we need writers fighting for the spirit of the books, and the intention of the author. And also writers who know that novels can’t be a 1:1 adaptation to tv, because characters can’t speak for hours on end without interruption.”
Well, seems like the fans have their own ideas and so far their ideas seem to matter more when it comes to a ‘successful’ show.
Creative Differences Maybe The Reason Why Henry Cavill Left The Witcher
Henry Cavill is a hardcore gamer and reader. On multiple occasions, the Man of Steel actor expressed his liking for The Witcher books and the video game. Even Lauren S Hissrich revealed that Cavill would send her notes for the dialogues of his character. He once remarked in an interview clearing the air regarding his ‘requests’,
“It’s important for me to have the character be three-dimensional. And it’s tricky to do, as I was saying earlier, because there’s a certain vision and there’s a certain set storyline and plot. And so, it was about me trying to find Geralt’s place within that. All of my asks and requests were along the lines of just being faithful to the source material.”
However, those who have seen The Witcher can say Geralt of Rivia and other characters have been different from the books. Hence, creative differences can be one of the major reasons why Henry Cavill decided to step down from one of his most celebrated and beloved roles since we all know how much of an avid fan he has been of the original source material.
The Witcher can be streamed on Netflix.
Source: Redanian Intelligence
