From Paper to Screen - The Witcher

There are countless stories published. How beautiful it is that these beautiful stories are brought to life. It is time to highlight these book adaptations. I know that people can get completely absorbed in an exciting or compelling book. A book can appeal to the imagination and you can let your own fantasies run wild. Countless stories have already been put on paper and many more will follow. It is admirable how writers can translate their ideas and fantasies into an all-encompassing book. I have to admit that I am not much of a reader myself. That may sound strange for someone who writes columns as reading material, but I am more of a visually oriented person. That is why book adaptations offer a good solution. It is fantastic to see how a beautiful story can be transformed into an equally beautiful series. In this third edition I will talk about the book adaptation The Witcher, based on the book series of the same name by Andrzej Sapkowski.



The Witcher book series by Andrzej Sapkowski follows the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster hunter, also known as a 'Witcher'. Geralt is a Witcher, a mutant with supernatural powers and abilities, who fights monsters in exchange for payment. He is a complex character with a strong moral compass, despite his often cynical and pragmatic approach to life. The series is set in a fantasy world filled with magic, political intrigue, and complex characters. The first two books, 'The Last Wish' and 'Sword of Destiny', are collections of short stories that introduce Geralt's adventures and encounters with various characters. The subsequent books form an ongoing storyline that revolves around Geralt's protective relationship with Ciri, a young princess with a mysterious background and powerful magical powers. These books include political intrigue, wars, and the struggles between various magical and non-magical factions.

There are several reasons why The Witcher story came to television. The book series had already built a large fan base, both in Poland and internationally. The world of The Witcher is rich in magical creatures, monsters and magical powers. It would be fantastic to bring this to life visually. In addition to the book series, there is also a popular video game series of The Witcher. These video games also contributed to the popularity of the franchise. The video games introduced the world of The Witcher to a wider audience and increased the demand for a visual adaptation. Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, the showrunner of the eventual series, saw potential in the books and worked with author Andrzej Sapkowski to bring the storylines and characters to the screen. Hissrich emphasized that it was important to maintain "the spirit of the books" while also taking creative liberties to make the story suitable for television. Finally, the casting of Henry Cavill as Geralt was a bull's eye. Henry Cavill himself is a big fan of the books and video games. This involvement is appreciated by the fans and helped bring the character to life and give the series a strong foundation.



In 2019, the Netflix series The Witcher premiered. The first season was an incredible success, especially when you look at the number of viewers. More seasons were quickly announced. However, there is a great deal of division among fans as to whether this series is a successful adaptation. The books follow a chronological storyline with a mix of short stories and longer novels. The first season of the series The Witcher combines elements from these short stories and simultaneously introduces the storylines of Yennefer and Ciri. The series uses a non-linear structure, following different timelines. This choice was not to everyone's taste. Despite the fact that the creators of the series want to retain the essence of the books, some details and events in the books are presented differently in the series. For example, in The Witcher the fall of Cintra is shown immediately and Geralt is present there, while in the books this event takes place later and Geralt is not present at all.

You notice that fans who are not familiar with the book series and/or game series enjoy the visual spectacle that The Witcher has to offer. They are not familiar with the background stories and get everything through the storylines of the series. This way of experiencing is at odds with the experience that fanatic fans of the book series have. This group of fans is quite critical, because it is close to their hearts and they want their beloved book series to be done justice. Lead actor Henry Cavill has also expressed his concerns about the direction the series would take. He wanted, just like the fans, for the series to remain true to the source material of Andrzej Sapkowski. The conclusion is that he has stepped down from the role of Geralt after three seasons. From the fourth season onwards, Liam Hemsworth will take over. How this will turn out remains to be seen.