Fantasy Netflix's The Witcher - General Discussion Thread

[TheVileOne]

What you guys need to understand is that so much of what is in the games is informed or directly inspired by the books. Even some of the most minor of references have basis from subplots or mentions in the books previously.

I don't think it's necessarily one or the other. Just remember, without the books, there are no games. The games simply provide us with a strong visual reference from the book descriptions. Even Geralt's fighting style with his swords is inspired by the books' descriptions. The thing the games essentially did was sort of provide us with a continuation and proper ending for the story all created from CD Red's perspective, but without Sapkowski's involvement.

If they play their cards right, The Witcher as a TV series will surpass Game of Thrones. Mark my words.

As for fan casting, they should look for someone in his mid-30s ish. Geralt of Rivia and the Witchers are supposed to age slowly. We see him in the books sort of in the prime of his life.

Waldau and Mikkelsen are both too old for this role at this point. IMHO, Mikkelsen could play a character, but he'd be more suited for someone like Regis. Someone about a generation older than Geralt and a little wiser and more experienced.

You shouldn't go above someone like 42 for casting Geralt. Why? If the show's a success, you are going to want it on for a while. Think about it guys. Game of Thrones premiered almost 7 years ago in 2010. So you are going to want to be able to the most out of your actor's performance as Geralt who can still look a convincing age as they get older. If they cast someone in their 50s now as Geralt that could become problematic later. Like I love Willem Dafoe, but you don't cast a Willem Dafoe type as Geralt now. Maybe Dafoe could play Vesemir or someone like that.

 

[Spider-Who?]

What you guys need to understand is that so much of what is in the games is informed or directly inspired by the books. Even some of the most minor of references have basis from subplots or mentions in the books previously.

I don't think it's necessarily one or the other. Just remember, without the books, there are no games. The games simply provide us with a strong visual reference from the book descriptions. Even Geralt's fighting style with his swords is inspired by the books' descriptions. The thing the games essentially did was sort of provide us with a continuation and proper ending for the story all created from CD Red's perspective, but without Sapkowski's involvement..

I've read all the books. I'm not talking about easter eggs or details that give the Witcher it's tone and history that CDPR took from the books. I'm *specifically* talking about the visuals/designs and other things that CDPR themselves brought to the table and which helped bring the characters and franchise to life, as I specifically mentioned previously.

 

[TheVileOne]

Eh we'll see. This is a new live-action adaptation. It shouldn't necessarily look like the games anyway.

A lot of what we see in the game services the gaming format. Take the armor for example. A TV show isn't going to focus on making sure Geralt has a mastercrafted set of armor that provides maximum defense stats, poison immunity, lighter in weight, etc. He's probably just going to have a basic outfit that probably won't look like any of the signature Witcher school armor sets in the game.

But yet again, the game's designs and overall look were still directly inspired by Sapkowski's books and descriptions.

Also they probably can't directly translate CD Projekt RED's designs anyway because CD Projekt RED owns their version of the game. So unless there's a license there they probably can't do much there.

 

[Marvolo]

His character from Hell on Wheels is basically Geralt in the old west. But he's busy now with Black Bolt.

Anson would be perfect.

 

[TheVileOne]

Anson Mount's not my first choice.

Geralt should be somewhat younger. Plus, Mount is already doing Inhumans.

 

[Roose Bolton]

Luke Roberts. He can keelhaul some elves when they try that eugenics ****.

 

[TheVileOne]

Zach McGowan. He's got the acting chops, the voice, and the physique. What rule states Geralt has to be a British or European actor?

Doug Cockle is Geralt's English VA, and he's American and doesn't use an accent as Geralt. In fact all of the members of Geralt's wolf school have fairly neutral accents. They sound American. Letho from the Viper school sounds like he's from the Louisiana.

 

[Marvolo]

The real question is who should play the true hero of these stories: Dandelion.

 

[TheVileOne]

The real question is who should play the true hero of these stories: Dandelion.

Dandelion is one of the most important characters in the story. He's the closest thing Geralt has to a best friend, and he's basically Geralt's chronicler. In The Witcher 3, an older Dandelion is the narrator of the story.

 

[Roose Bolton]

The real question is who should play the true hero of these stories: Dandelion.

Toby Schmitz, because he's a dandy and he needs the work.

 

[Solidus]

Very exciting.

I do hope they bring Marcin Przybyłowicz and Mikolai Stroinski on board.

 

[TheVileOne]

I will be curious to see how far they go with the beasts and monsters in the show.

Obviously, some corners will have to be cut for TV. Game of Thrones cut a lot of corners in the early seasons with all those major battles happening off-screen.

I also want it maintained that Geralt doesn't care for politics. He generally desires to remain neutral. He tries to follow the Path. He's a Witcher. Being a Witcher means you hunt monsters and supernatural threats. Get your gold and move on. That's what you do. You go from one job to the next. He generally wishes to stay out of the affairs of nations. He cares for his friends and will go out of his way to help his friends and those closest to him. He likes fine wines and has a soft spot for children and endangered creatures.

Now of course even though Geralt tries to avoid political conflicts, he's reluctantly and unwittingly drawn into them anyway and usually forced to pick the lesser of two evils. No matter which cause you think is more just, there's always a dubious agenda or people who will commit dubious acts on both sides.

Also Geralt hates portals. He REALLY hates portals.

But this is a world where supernatural creatures exist due to the conjunction of the spheres. The world of The Witcher is possibly not even Earth. Or it's an alternate Earth where the elves existed first. Humans came later due to the conjunction of the spheres event, but other creatures and monsters spilled over as well. Witchers were created to fight these threats.

 

[BlackFox]

Certainly means I need to get on and finish the books I havn't finished reading yet in the series that I own.

 

[Reek]

Game of Thrones cut a lot because of budget... Netflix has a budget much much bigger than HBO.

 

[Marvolo]

Game of Thrones cut a lot because of budget... Netflix has a budget much much bigger than HBO.

HBO's GOT budget is currently $10 - $12 million per episode. Whereas the budget for Marvel shows on Netflix is around $3.3 million per episode ($200 million for 60 one hour episodes). House of cards has an episode budget of around $5 million. The rest of Netflix's shows have episode budgets between $3.5 million and $4.5 million. And with Netflix shows the studio that produces or owns the show pays part of the budget. So for the Witcher series, Platige Image will likely have to pay some of the budget and I doubt their coffers are as deep as HBO's.

With Netflix's track record I figure they will try to keep Witcher's episode budget around $6 million if they are feeling generous.

 

[Lighthouse]

If he's going to be raising Ciri at all in this series, avoiding politics will be impossible.

HBO's GOT budget is currently $10 - $12 million per episode. Whereas the budget for Marvel shows on Netflix is around $3 million per episode. House of cards has an episode budget of around $5 million. The rest of Netflix's shows have episode budgets between $3.5 million and $4.5 million. And with Netflix shows the studio that produces or owns the show pays part of the budget. So for the Witcher series, Platige Image will likely have to pay some of the budget and I doubt their coffers are as deep as HBO's.

With Netflix's track record I figure they will try to keep Witcher's episode budget around $6 million if they are feeling generous.

The great thing about the Witcher is you can do the whole political drama with sex, violence and intrigue, ala Game of Thrones, and/or do a yojimbo wanderer monster of the week type show.

 

[Reek]

regardless of all the babbling Marvolo just needlessly googled....

netflix can throw whatever budget they please at it. will it get a bigger budget than GoT? highly doubt it.. but thats not saying it cant.

(thats the wrong pic by the way, im trying to find the other one )

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/17/netf...in-2017-makes-it-one-of-the-top-spenders.html

 

[Roose Bolton]

Netflix has a programing budget in the billions. Admittedly so does HBO, but with HBO it's a flat billion.

 

[Reek]

why ask for billions when you could ask for.........................millions.

 

[Roose Bolton]

It's a little known fact that D&D report directly to Lorne Michaels.

 

[Reek]

which is why Norm should be Dandelion.

 

[terry78]

And if that ongoing rumor of Disney possibly wanting the get their hooks into Netflix ever comes to light the budgets will be even bigger.

 

[KillerMcQueen]

I definitely hope Netflix doesn't hold back on their budget, if it's good I could see them raising the budget on potential future seasons to be up there with Thrones though.

 

[TheVileOne]

If he's going to be raising Ciri at all in this series, avoiding politics will be impossible.

The point is that Geralt doesn't care for politics. He's generally anti-political and wants to stay out of the affairs of nations. Why? It's not his job or concern. He's a Witcher. That means it's his job to kill monsters, do his job, collect his gold and move on the path. However, he's usually drawn into political conflicts anyway and reluctantly so. Obviously, if you bring in elements like Ciri and the various factions and resistances, the political parallels would be next to possible to avoid.

The great thing about the Witcher is you can do the whole political drama with sex, violence and intrigue, ala Game of Thrones, and/or do a yojimbo wanderer monster of the week type show.

The characters in Witcher are more focused and better developed. So this could actually be a major improvement over Game of Thrones if you play your cards right.

 

[Loki882]

His character from Hell on Wheels is basically Geralt in the old west. But he's busy now with Black Bolt.

Well from what I hear Inhumans right now is like a mini-series basically. And they're already filming. So who knows how it will go.