While Henry Cavill may be the most recognizable face to have portrayed Geralt of Rivia, his name isn't the first that springs to mind for many, especially within the gaming community. For gamers, Doug Cockle, the voice behind Geralt in CD Projekt Red's critically acclaimed RPG series, is the quintessential White Wolf. Now, the worlds of Cavill and Cockle's Geralts have intertwined, with Cockle lending his iconic voice to Netflix's animated feature, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep.

Despite not voicing the same Geralt as in the games, Cockle wasn't required to mimic Henry Cavill or Liam Hemsworth, who will take over the role in the live-action series' upcoming season. This artistic choice allowed Cockle to employ the same technique and approach that crafted his signature gravelly tone. Fans will recognize the familiar voice that has defined Geralt for nearly two decades.

Cockle developed this distinctive voice in 2005 while recording for the first Witcher game. "The most challenging aspect of recording Witcher 1 was finding the right voice," Cockle remembers. "Initially, Geralt's voice was very deep, and I had to really push to achieve it."

At the time, there were no strict guidelines on recording session durations, so Cockle often spent eight to nine hours a day voicing that rough tone. "I'd return to my hotel feeling like my throat was shredded," he recalls. This challenge persisted into the recording of The Witcher 2, but eventually, Cockle's vocal cords adapted to the demands, a process he humorously compares to an athlete conditioning their muscles.

The release of The Last Wish in English marked another pivotal moment during The Witcher 2's development. "The books began coming out in English while I was recording," Cockle explains. "Before that, the developers at CD Projekt Red were my primary source of information about Geralt. As soon as The Last Wish was available, I rushed to the bookstore, devoured it, and gained insights into Geralt that I hadn't understood before."

"The developers kept insisting he was emotionless," Cockle notes. "As an actor, I wanted to explore emotions, but reading the book helped me understand why they wanted Geralt to have a more subdued emotional range."

Doug Cockle's Geralt joins Joey Batey's Jaskier and other members of the Netflix cast in Sirens of the Deep. | Image credit: Netflix

Cockle quickly developed a deep appreciation for Andrzej Sapkowski's writing, drawing parallels to his childhood favorite, Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Of all Sapkowski's novels, Season of Storms holds a special place in his heart, and he hopes to voice Geralt in a potential Netflix adaptation. "It's a story that's both horrifying and thrilling," he says. "The graphic fight scenes would make for a gripping anime or TV episode."

Currently, Cockle's Geralt can be seen and heard in Sirens of the Deep, a dark and twisted take on Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid, inspired by the short story "A Little Sacrifice" from the Sword of Destiny collection. Amidst the tale's darker themes, Cockle finds the lighter moments most engaging, particularly a humorous exchange between Geralt and Jaskier by a campfire, showcasing Geralt's often underappreciated lighter side.

"Acting is about exploring different facets of a character's personality," Cockle shares. "I enjoy Geralt's seriousness, but also cherish those moments where he tries, often unsuccessfully, to be light-hearted."

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While much of Cockle's work on Sirens of the Deep felt familiar, the project presented a unique challenge: speaking in the fictional language of mermaids. "It was much harder than I anticipated," Cockle admits. "I practiced phonetic spellings, but performing in front of the microphone was tougher than expected."

Cockle will soon return to the world of video games with The Witcher 4, which was unveiled at last year's Game Awards. Returning to his original Geralt should feel like slipping into a well-worn pair of slippers, albeit with less dialogue to record, as Geralt will be a supporting character to Ciri, his adoptive daughter.

Cockle remains tight-lipped about The Witcher 4, claiming to know as much as the public does. However, he's enthusiastic about the shift in focus to Ciri. "Switching to Ciri's perspective is a smart move," he says. "Given the events in the books, it promises an exciting narrative. I can't wait to see what they've crafted."

For more on CD Projekt Red's plans, check out our detailed interview with the creators of The Witcher 4. To see more of Doug Cockle, watch The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep on Netflix, or follow him on Instagram, Cameo, and X.