Geralt Actor Dismisses 'Woke' Claims About Ciri in The Witcher 4

Doug Cockle, the iconic voice behind Geralt of Rivia in CD Projekt's The Witcher series, has recently addressed the backlash surrounding The Witcher 4's focus on Ciri as the protagonist. In a candid response to critics, Cockle urged detractors to "read the damn books" and understand the depth of the character and the universe created by Andrzej Sapkowski.

"That's just stupid," Cockle remarked about the controversy stirred by the shift in focus from Geralt to Ciri in the upcoming game. He firmly dismissed accusations of the game being "woke," emphasizing Ciri's integral role in the The Witcher lore. "There's nothing woke about it. [Ciri]'s a cool character from The Witcher, and they're gonna focus on that character, and that's awesome," he explained in a video interview with Fall Damage.

Despite reprising his role as Geralt in The Witcher 4, Cockle supports the narrative shift to Ciri. He pointed out that Geralt's story arc concluded with Blood and Wine, suggesting it's time for new stories to be told. "We can't just have Geralt for every single game for The Witcher ad nauseam, out through eternity," he stated, advocating for fresh narratives within the franchise.

Cockle celebrated Ciri's prominence, dismissing those who criticized the move as "woke." "I celebrate Ciri. I celebrate her being the protagonist. So all you people who think it's woke... [blows raspberry]," he said, showing his enthusiasm for the direction CD Projekt is taking.

The decision to focus on Ciri aligns with the rich tapestry of Sapkowski's novels, which offer a broader canvas for exploration beyond Geralt's adventures. Cockle highlighted this connection, suggesting that the books provide a deeper understanding of why Ciri's story is compelling and necessary. "If you read the books, then you understand why CD Projekt went down this avenue," he noted, praising the novels for their quality and relevance to the game's narrative direction.

CD Projekt's games continue the saga after the events of Sapkowski's final novel, and while the author has distanced his work from the video games, both share a mutual appreciation for Ciri's potential as a lead character. This perspective is echoed by CD Projekt's own lore and franchise designers, who have explained how the timeline aligns with the new narrative focus.

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