The Witcher: Haters behind the scenes! Some writers on the Netflix series hated the book template

• “The Witcher” is the hit Netflix series based on the best-selling witcher saga by author Andrzej Sapkowski.
• Numerous screenwriters worked on the series adaptation for the streaming giant, led by showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich.
• However, some of the authors of “The Witcher” were anything but fans of the series and are said to have even made fun of the book template.

When you’re writing the screenplay for a popular franchise, you should also love and understand the world and characters in it, right? One would think so, but with the Netflix hit series “The Witcher” that was obviously not the case for everyone.

According to author Beau DeMayo, who contributed a few episodes to the series himself, there were screenwriters who worked on “The Witcher” without being a fan of the series themselves. Some are even said to have made fun of the story of Geralt of Rivia. DeMayo revealed this in a Q&A on Instagram, in which he also revealed new details about the upcoming Disney+ series “X-Men ’97”.

The author reports that he worked on “The Witcher” and encountered writers who didn’t like the books or video games or disliked the plot in general. “The Witcher” showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich commented on the subject on Twitter in 2020.

Hissrich was therefore not looking for super fans of the witcher saga, but for people who should bring a new perspective on the story. Some of the authors of “The Witcher” are die-hard fans of the witcher and the others must have at least read the books.

We need writers who are close, but not too close. Who love the world but are not afraid to question it. The fans are, but are also willing to step back and open their minds to bring their beloved world into our real (big) world.

Lauren S. Hissrich via Twitter

This mixed team of authors made up of fans and critics is intended to provide variety for the series. As a result, “The Witcher” is sometimes very far away from the plot that we know from the games by CD Projekt Red or the books by Andrzej Sapkowski.

However, fans of the Witcher saga, such as lead actor Henry Cavill, have ensured through their own love of the franchise that the series never strayed too far from the original material. For example, the actor had a scene with Geralt’s horse Roach changed because he didn’t find the script respectful enough.

With Cavill no longer appearing as Geralt of Rivia as of season four, it remains to be seen how the series will continue. Whether the new Geralt, Liam Hamsworth, will have as much impact on the plot remains to be seen.

Despite Hissrich’s partially controversial method of letting “The Witcher” critics work on “The Witcher”, the series about the witcher was a huge success. The first season of the spin-off “The Witcher: Blood Origin” awaits us on December 25, 2022 and in summer 2023 we can look forward to the 3rd season of the series on Netflix, with Henry Cavill still in the lead role.