Geralt Actor Dismisses 'Woke' Label for Ciri-Led Witcher 4

Doug Cockle, the iconic voice behind Geralt of Rivia in CD Projekt's The Witcher series, has strongly defended the decision to feature Ciri as the protagonist in the upcoming The Witcher 4. In a candid video interview with Fall Damage, Cockle dismissed the backlash against this creative choice, labeling it as "stupid" and refuting claims that the shift to Ciri signifies a "woke" agenda.

"It's not woke," Cockle emphasized. "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 pointed out that Ciri's prominence aligns with the rich narrative potential offered by Andrzej Sapkowski's original novels, suggesting that fans who criticize the move should "read the damn books" to better understand the decision.

Cockle, who will reprise his role as Geralt in The Witcher 4, albeit not as the main character, argued that Geralt's story has reached a natural conclusion with the Blood and Wine expansion. "We can't just have Geralt for every single game for The Witcher ad nauseam, out through eternity," he remarked, advocating for Ciri to take center stage in the next installment and the anticipated trilogy.

The announcement that Ciri would lead The Witcher 4 sparked controversy among a vocal minority online last year, with some accusing the series of going "woke." Cockle dismissed these criticisms with a raspberry, celebrating Ciri's role and the new direction for the franchise.

Cockle also hinted at the narrative richness surrounding Ciri that was only touched upon in The Witcher 3, suggesting that her story offers a fresh and compelling direction for the series. He encouraged fans to delve into Sapkowski's novels to appreciate the depth of Ciri's character and the logical progression of the storyline.

The Witcher series, set after the events of Sapkowski's novels, continues to explore the expansive universe created by the Polish author, who himself has distanced his work from the video game adaptations. However, Sapkowski's portrayal of Ciri as a central figure aligns with CD Projekt's vision for The Witcher 4.

IGN previously covered discussions with CD Projekt's franchise and lore designers, Cian Maher and Marcin Batylda, who explained how the timeline of events in The Witcher 4 fits seamlessly with the established narrative.

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