While Henry Cavill may be the most recognizable face of Geralt of Rivia, within the gaming community, Doug Cockle's portrayal of the character in CD Projekt Red's acclaimed RPG series holds a special place. Known for his iconic voice work, Cockle has now brought his signature gravelly tones to the animated film, *The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep* on Netflix, merging the paths of his and Cavill's Geralts.
Despite the transition to a new medium, Cockle was not asked to mimic Cavill or Liam Hemsworth, who will take over the role in the live-action series. This allowed him to maintain the same vocal approach that fans have come to love over nearly two decades. In *Sirens of the Deep*, viewers will hear the familiar voice of Geralt from the games, even though it's a different iteration of the character.
Cockle developed Geralt's distinctive voice during the recording of the first Witcher game in 2005. "The most challenging aspect of recording *Witcher 1* was the voice itself," he recalls. "Initially, Geralt's voice was very deep in my register, something I had to push towards." The recording sessions, which lasted eight or nine hours a day, were grueling, but his vocal cords eventually adapted, much like an athlete conditioning their muscles.
During the development of *The Witcher 2*, another significant change occurred: the English translation of Andrzej Sapkowski's books became available. "Before that, the developers at CD Projekt Red were my sole source of information about Geralt," Cockle says. "But as soon as *The Last Wish* was released in English, I rushed to the bookstore and devoured it. Reading the book gave me a deeper understanding of Geralt's character, which was crucial for my performance."
Cockle was particularly struck by Sapkowski's writing style, comparing it favorably to J.R.R. Tolkien's. Among the novels, *Season of Storms* stands out as his favorite, a story he'd love to voice if Netflix ever adapts it. "It's a thrilling yet horrific tale with some incredibly graphic fight scenes," he explains, expressing his enthusiasm for potential future projects.
In *The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep*, which adapts the short story "A Little Sacrifice" from *Sword of Destiny*, Cockle's Geralt navigates a conflict between two kingdoms following a romance between a mermaid and a human prince. While the film is filled with action and drama, Cockle appreciates the lighter moments, such as a humorous campfire conversation with Jaskier, showcasing Geralt's often overlooked softer side.
"I enjoy exploring the different facets of Geralt's personality," Cockle notes. "While I appreciate his serious demeanor, I also relish those moments when he tries to lighten the mood, even if his attempts at humor often fall flat."
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One unique challenge in Sirens of the Deep was Cockle's need to speak a fictional language, that of the mermaids. "It was much harder than I anticipated," he admits, describing the difficulty of learning phonetic spellings and performing them accurately.
Looking ahead, Cockle will reprise his role in *The Witcher 4*, albeit in a supporting capacity as the focus shifts to Ciri. With a significantly reduced dialogue load compared to the previous games, returning to Geralt should feel like slipping into comfortable slippers. "I'm excited to see where CDPR takes the story," he says, praising the move to center the narrative on Ciri.
For more insights into CD Projekt Red's plans, check out our comprehensive interview with the developers of *The Witcher 4*. To experience more of Doug Cockle's work, watch *The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep* on Netflix, or connect with him on Instagram, Cameo, and X.
