Cockle: Netflix's New Geralt Voice

While Henry Cavill may be the most famous actor to portray Geralt of Rivia, Doug Cockle—the voice of Geralt in CD Projekt Red's acclaimed RPG series—remains the definitive White Wolf for many gamers. Their paths converge in Netflix's animated film, *The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep*, where Cockle lends his iconic voice to the character.

Interestingly, Cockle wasn't asked to emulate Henry Cavill or Liam Hemsworth's portrayal. This allowed him to utilize the same vocal approach that defined his Geralt for nearly two decades, ensuring fans hear the familiar, gravelly tones they've come to love.

Cockle developed that distinctive voice back in 2005 while recording the first *Witcher* game. He recalls the challenge: "The thing I found most challenging about recording *Witcher 1* was actually the voice itself. When I first started, Geralt's voice was very low in my register. It was something I had to push towards." Long recording sessions (eight to nine hours daily) initially strained his voice, a process he compares to an athlete building muscle endurance. This continued into *The Witcher 2*, but his vocal chords eventually adapted.

The release of *The Last Wish* in English marked a significant turning point. Cockle explains, "The books started coming out in English while I was recording *Witcher 2*. Before that, the developers taught me about Geralt. As soon as *The Last Wish* came out, I bought it and read it. I understood things about Geralt I hadn't before." This deepened his understanding of the character's emotional restraint, which initially conflicted with his acting instincts.

Cockle embraced Sapkowski's writing, drawing parallels to his childhood love of Tolkien. *Season of Storms* remains a favorite, a story he'd relish voicing in future adaptations. He describes it as "horrible...awful...but thrilling," highlighting the potential for an anime or TV episode adaptation.

In *Sirens of the Deep*, while Cockle’s performance largely relied on his established voice, a unique challenge emerged: speaking Mermaid. He found this surprisingly difficult, despite phonetic preparation.

His return to video games in *The Witcher 4*, announced at The Game Awards, promises a smoother experience. While Geralt will have a supporting role, focusing on Ciri, Cockle’s workload will be significantly reduced. He remains tight-lipped about the game's details, but expresses enthusiasm for the shift in perspective, believing it a strong narrative choice.

He highlights the exciting shift in perspective to Ciri: "Continuing the saga, but shifting to Ciri would be a really interesting move...mostly because of things that happen in the books, which I don't want to give away." He encourages readers to explore the books themselves.

To learn more about *The Witcher 4*, explore our in-depth interview with its creators. To connect with Doug Cockle, watch *The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep* on Netflix or find him on Instagram, Cameo, and X.

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