Geralt Actor Calls Ciri-Led Witcher 4 'Woke' Suggestion 'Stupid'

Doug Cockle, the iconic voice behind Geralt in The Witcher series, has strongly responded to the backlash against The Witcher 4's focus on Ciri as the protagonist. In a recent video by Fall Damage, Cockle dismissed the criticism as "stupid" and urged fans to "read the damn books" to better understand the decision.

Cockle emphasized that featuring Ciri, a well-established character from The Witcher universe, as the lead in the upcoming game is far from being "woke." He praised Ciri's character and expressed excitement about the new direction CD Projekt is taking with the franchise.

Despite Geralt's continued presence in The Witcher 4, the announcement that Ciri would take the spotlight in the next game and likely the entire upcoming trilogy triggered some negative reactions from a vocal minority online. Cockle addressed these concerns, stating, "We can't just have Geralt for every single game for The Witcher ad nauseam, out through eternity." He pointed out that Geralt's story concluded with Blood and Wine, suggesting it's time for his character to take a break.

Cockle's support for Ciri as the protagonist was clear: "I celebrate Ciri. I celebrate her being the protagonist. So all you people who think it's woke... [blows raspberry]."

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View 51 ImagesCockle also highlighted the rich narrative potential Ciri brings to the game, drawing from the original novels by Andrzej Sapkowski. He noted that while Ciri appeared in The Witcher 3, her story was secondary to Geralt's, and there are many unexplored aspects of her journey that could be developed in The Witcher 4.

He encouraged critics to read Sapkowski's books, not only for their quality but also to understand the context behind CD Projekt's choice of protagonist. Sapkowski's novels, which conclude before the events of the games, also position Ciri as a central figure, ready to carry the narrative forward when Geralt's story pauses.

IGN's previous discussions with CD Projekt's franchise and lore designers, Cian Maher and Marcin Batylda, further clarified how the timeline aligns with the new focus on Ciri, ensuring a seamless transition in the narrative arc of The Witcher series.