I have to admit that, as someone who enjoyed the first two playable installments of ‘The Witcher’ and who poured more than 100 hours of its existence into the huge third part, subtitled ‘Wild Hunt’, my first contact with the adaptation to the small screen of Andrzej Sapkowski novels and CD Projekt Red video games was scarred by fear of disaster.
Luckily, and without expecting it at all, the Netflix production starring a fantastic Henry Cavill in his role as Geralt of Rivia ended up dazzling me with his light-hearted approach to sword and sorcerycloser to ‘Xena’ than other bets with a more sober and solemn will.
Clash in the writers room
How such a satisfactory result has been achieved is, today more than ever, a mystery. especially after hearing the words of the former scriptwriter of the show Beau DeMayo. During a Q&A on Instagram, the scribe compared his experience in the ‘X-Men ’97’ writers’ room, in which everyone involved had to be fans of the source material, to that of ‘The Witcher’, where there were mockery of Sapkowski’s work.
“I’ve been on a show, specifically ‘The Witcher,’ where some of the writers really disliked the books and the video games – they even made fun of the source material – it’s a recipe for disaster and low morale. The fandom is a litmus test, it tests egos and makes endless late nights worthwhile. You have to respect the work before you’re allowed to contribute to its legacy.”
Previously, showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich stated what she says is the recipe for success to cook an adaptation of this cut: have fans of the source… but not so much.
“We need writers who are familiar, but not too familiar. Who like the world, but aren’t afraid to question it. Who are fans, but willing to step back and open their minds so they can bring their beloved world into ours” .
Be that as it may, the adventures of Geralt and company will continue in the prequel ‘Blood Origin’which will premiere on December 25, and in the third season of ‘The Witcher’which will hit our screens throughout the summer of 2023.
Via | TheDirect