According to The Hollywood Reporter, Andrzej Sapkowski the author of The Witcher, states that Netflix did not listen to his suggestions as the series kept deviating from the source material. The Polish author had many things to say about working with Netflix, even saying that when it came to his ideas the streamer “never listened.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, at Vienna Comic-Con the author was asked about any feedback he has given in the streamer, and with a laugh he said, “Maybe, I gave them some ideas, but they never listened to me. But it’s normal.” He then turned his expression into one of a Netflix executive and continued saying, “Who’s this? It’s a writer, it’s nobody.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, one of the biggest headlines the show faced was the departure of Henry Cavill (Man of Steel) who played the, main character, in the series. Although the full reason isn’t known for his exit from the series many knew that Cavill was very big fan of Sapkowski’s book and the games based on it. In the fourth season of the series Geralt the main character will be played by Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games).
After Cavill’s departure from the series, writer Beau DeMayo (X-Men ‘97) said on Instagram, “I’ve been on a show — namely Witcher — where some of the writers were not or actively disliked the books and games even actively mocking the source material. It’s a recipe for disaster and bad morale. Fandom as a litmus test checks egos, and makes all the long nights worth it. You have to respect the work before you’re allowed to add to its legacy.”
Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich (Daredevil) responded to comments about DeMayo’s Instagram post and said, “I’ve never mocked the books. The books are my entire livelihood. I have a great relationship with Mr. Sapkowski, and writers rooms are sacred and safe and — more than anything — supportive spaces. Don’t believe everything you read.”
The Witcher is available to stream on Netflix with season four premiering no sooner than 2025.