Fantasy Netflix's The Witcher - General Discussion Thread

[OutOfBoose]

I mean I agree with that, but when is fandom ever rational? LOL. But look it was bound to happen after that casting description came out.

I'm sure the producers are going to say Ciri's skin color or whatever is social commentary for what's going on in our country now or whatever. And we'll get lots of think pieces on various websites about how great this is from The Mary Sue, Vulture, The Verge, Polygon, and Kotaku.

Actually Sapkowski has his share of social commentary in his Witcher books. Only he used conflict between humans and elder races for that. Not poc. From my POV it's another stone against "racially diverse world of Witcher". Yes, it's diverse, but it's fantasy diversity.

But ultimately, it just comes down to what I'm used to. CDPR nailed the books adaptation and I don't see it any other way (except some minor alterations).

 

[Loden Greatstorm]

I mean I agree with that, but when is fandom ever rational? LOL. But look it was bound to happen after that casting description came out.

I'm sure the producers are going to say Ciri's skin color or whatever is social commentary for what's going on in our country now or whatever. And we'll get lots of think pieces on various websites about how great this is from The Mary Sue, Vulture, The Verge, Polygon, and Kotaku.

What was the actual casting description?

 

[OutOfBoose]

For archives:

Auditions | Film, Theatre and TV Industry Castings | National Youth Theatre

The Witcher [Confidential]
THE WITCHER for Netflix
Overall shoot dates: 18th October 2018 - end May 2019
Location: Budapest

CIRI
LEAD ROLE. OPTIONS REQUIRED
Cirilla. The Lion Cub of Cintra

Looking for a 16 or 15 year old BAME girl who can play down to 13/14. Must not be older than 18 years old.

Resilient, Relentless, Brazen, Growing.

CIRI can often be found rough-housing with the Palace hands instead of sitting in finery at the knee of the QUEEN CALANTHE, her grandmother. That is, until Cintra is massacred by the Nilfgaardians and CIRI is orphaned, left to traverse THE CONTINENT, alone. She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s a direct descendent of LARA DORREN, an Elven Mage – which is why everyone in our series is after her. We follow CIRI as she evades her captors, and in the meantime, discovers her magical talents, her dark side, and the role she is to play in the coming apocalypse. We are looking for an extraordinary young talent to lead this series. She should be brave hearted and MUST have something truly special about her.

The Witcher an 8 x one hour, fantasy drama for Netflix created by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich (The West Wing, The Defenders, Daredevil) and based on the book series of the same name by Andrzej Sapkowski.

GERALT, a genetically enhanced monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.

GERALT's story entwines with CIRI, an orphaned young girl who wants to find a family & YENNEFER, a powerful sorceress whose beauty and talent come at cost.

Bound together by destiny, often against their will, the three must navigate THE CONTINENT together. And Geralt and Yennefer reliaze that they must protect this girl - who might just destroy the world. Need we say more?

If you fit the bill, please submit a headshot and CV to [email protected] with the subject line 'NYT The Witcher' asap

 

[Iceman]

How long ago were the Witcher novels written?

 

[Reek]

lol man if you keep that attitude, eventually you'll have nothing to watch. Did you skip Deadpool 2 because of Domino? Obviously you didn't skip Mortal Kombat which strayed from the game.

Oh well, hope you change your mind. Be better to have more people here discussing than not.

You watch Game of Thrones don't you?

 

[Reek]

How long ago were the Witcher novels written?

mid 90s

 

[Iceman]

mid 90s

Thanks.

 

[Loden Greatstorm]

How long ago were the Witcher novels written?

Early 90's.

 

[Iceman]

Early 90's.

Thanks.

Game playthroughs first for me and then all the novels....or maybe the other way round. Or both simultaneously.

 

[OutOfBoose]

lol man if you keep that attitude, eventually you'll have nothing to watch.

I doubt that. I'm not against diversity, it's just there should be time and place. I'm looking forward to Cyberpunk game and it's diverse AF. And it should be. But Witcher, or LOTR, or Game of Thrones - wrong subjects for such experiments.

Did you skip Deadpool 2 because of Domino?

I didn't. Because it's the lack of the classic look that bothered me, not race. But race of the actress probably contributed to the costume design, if spoken frankly.

Obviously you didn't skip Mortal Kombat which strayed from the game.

It strayed only in case of Raiden. No idea why he's Christopher Lambert white. But he still looks really close to game portrayal. Fair skin, the hat, lightning effects... Iconography is respected.

Oh well, hope you change your mind. Be better to have more people here discussing than not.

Let's see what they come up with...

You watch Game of Thrones don't you?

I do. I'm aware they made quite a number of changes to some secondary characters, but main characters are translated well.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

If they race change Ciri it'll seriously kill my excitement for the series.

 

[Reek]

they changed plenty about mortal kombat? but ok there not reason to get into that...

and every single main character of game of thrones has been changed... you're still there... now it completely seems like a race thing... you're not worried about context being changed but are worried about race. but thats a whole different conversation... Ill leave it there. I enjoy your opinions and hopefully youll stick around.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

they changed plenty about mortal kombat? but ok there not reason to get into that...

and every single main character of game of thrones has been changed... you're still there... now it completely seems like a race thing... you're not worried about context being changed but are worried about race. but thats a whole different conversation... Ill leave it there. I enjoy your opinions and hopefully youll stick around.

Have you read the books? Race changing Ciri would have to change so much about the Witcher world regarding Elves, the Elder blood, the demographics of Cintra, etc etc that it seems like a stupid decision when casting her as she was described would be less of a headache.

 

[Lilbaz]

Doesn't bother me that much, they probably want to thinking it will attract more viewers. But it will piss fans off who have a picture of ciri in their minds especially from the games.

The whole sjw, alt right debate is going to be brought up and it really shouldn't. 99% of white people are happy watching films with a black cast and vice versa. Half of the top earning actors last year weren't white. India, nigeria, china, korea have massive film industries every ethnicity is well represented.

Just tell stories.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

Its not like fans have magically conjured up what Ciri looks like, she is specifically described as being fair skinned with ashen hair and green eyes, she looks Elven like her ancestor Lara Dorren. The games just happened to translate her appearance perfectly.

 

[TheVileOne]

Mortal Kombat is hardly a sterling example here.

 

[OutOfBoose]

Mortal Kombat is hardly a sterling example here.

But she tries to sell it like her change isn't just because, but because the story demands it. BS.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

The only ethnic people in the books are from Ofier or Zerrikania and one only is mentioned in the games, unless I'm forgetting something, and the other has two characters from its lands in a short story.

 

[TheVileOne]

Well if Ciri is non-white doesn't that mean it will have to be the same for her biological relatives? So maybe they have a specific story reason for that in mind .

 

[Fincher]

I understand some people taking issue with this. In my case, I only played the first game, where Ciri wasn't around, so how Triss is handled is my concern.

 

[TheVileOne]

LOL, the first game only when Triss looked like this

 

[Loden Greatstorm]

Patiently waiting for that Eva Green casting announcement

 

[Iceman]

I’d rather she looked 100% like she does in the game as that was perfect, but if we’re not getting that it doesn’t really kill my hype.

 

[BaelaTargaryen]

 

[Tanin]

I understand some people taking issue with this. In my case, I only played the first game, where Ciri wasn't around, so how Triss is handled is my concern.

Triss is a game only character so she may not even appear at all.