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Made in us
Did Fulgrim Just Behead Ferrus?





Fort Worth, TX

For those who don't know, Netflix is working on an adaptation of The Witcher. There really hasn't been much news beyond the initial announcement of the show and the name of the producer/showrunner, Lauren Schmidt Hissrich. The author of the books, Andrzej Sapkowski, was initially involved but left at some point (he's rumored to be a less-than-easy person to work with).

Anyway, we finally have our first real big news regarding the show, and that's the announcement that Henry Cavill will be playing Geralt of Rivia. I'm honestly not sure what to think about that. Fairly big name, so that helps get attention. I've only seen him in his first Superman movie, as I haven't got around to watching the other DC movies, yet.

I've played the games and read the books (in that order), and I never had any particular actors in mind for the title role (or any of the roles, really). What do y'all think of the casting?

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2022/11/02 06:16:12


"Through the darkness of future past, the magician longs to see.
One chants out between two worlds: Fire, walk with me."
- Twin Peaks
"You listen to me. While I will admit to a certain cynicism, the fact is that I am a naysayer and hatchetman in the fight against violence. I pride myself in taking a punch and I'll gladly take another because I choose to live my life in the company of Gandhi and King. My concerns are global. I reject absolutely revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method... is love. I love you Sheriff Truman." - Twin Peaks 
   
Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






Hmmmmm....we need a leading man.

Do they need any kind of charisma or appeal?

FETH NO!

I know just the man....

   
Made in ca
Gargantuan Gargant






I'm kinda surprised at the casting, he's definitely not the guy I expected. I was edging towards a more Slavic/Russian guy given that he's a Northener. Makes me a bit worried about who else they'll cast for the other main characters like Yennefer and Triss.
   
Made in us
Norn Queen






He can act. He was pretty good in the most recent Mission Impossible. Once they scar him up and stick him in the white wig we will have a better idea. No matter who they picked he was going to end up with prosthetic battle damage, pale make up, and a wig.


These are my opinions. This is how I feel. Others may feel differently. This needs to be stated for some reason.
 
   
Made in us
Expendable Defender Destroid Rookie





I'm... okay with this.

Henry Cavill is a fine actor and did a great job in the Man from UNCLE.
   
Made in gb
Stone Bonkers Fabricator General




We'll find out soon enough eh.

He's also apparently a ridiculous slobbering fanboy(I mean that in a good way), so there's every chance he'll bring some energy to this role rather than his "traffic bollard in a cape" style from the DC films.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/09/05 08:19:55


I need to acquire plastic Skavenslaves, can you help?
I have a blog now, evidently. Featuring the Alternative Mordheim Model Megalist.

"Your society's broken, so who should we blame? Should we blame the rich, powerful people who caused it? No, lets blame the people with no power and no money and those immigrants who don't even have the vote. Yea, it must be their fething fault." - Iain M Banks
-----
"The language of modern British politics is meant to sound benign. But words do not mean what they seem to mean. 'Reform' actually means 'cut' or 'end'. 'Flexibility' really means 'exploit'. 'Prudence' really means 'don't invest'. And 'efficient'? That means whatever you want it to mean, usually 'cut'. All really mean 'keep wages low for the masses, taxes low for the rich, profits high for the corporations, and accept the decline in public services and amenities this will cause'." - Robin McAlpine from Common Weal 
   
Made in au
Owns Whole Set of Skullz Techpriests






Versteckt in den Schatten deines Geistes.

Inb4 race-bent Yen!


Anyway, Henry as Geralt? I'll say Jim Caviezel was always my first choice, but I can see Henry working.

Industrial Insanity - My Terrain Blog
"GW really needs to understand 'Less is more' when it comes to AoS." - Wha-Mu-077

 
   
Made in fr
Longtime Dakkanaut






It should have been Mads Mikkelsen frankly. But we'll see what Cavill can do.
   
Made in gb
Norn Queen






If you look into the writing staff, you can already see this is going to be a critical child of god but will be hated by audiences.
   
Made in us
Willing Inquisitorial Excruciator





Based on...what exactly?

Insidious Intriguer 
   
Made in gb
Norn Queen






It's against the rules to say why.
   
Made in us
Ancient Venerable Black Templar Dreadnought





Where ever the Emperor needs his eyes

I think this casting will work out, out side of the DC movies Henry Cavill is a perfectly charismatic actor.
   
Made in no
Terrifying Doombull





Hefnaheim

 Inquisitor Gideon wrote:
It should have been Mads Mikkelsen frankly. But we'll see what Cavill can do.


+| Mads Mikkelsen would have made for an amazing Geralt,
   
Made in gb
Xeno-Hating Inquisitorial Excruciator




London

Pretty contentless post from me here, but yeah ... I can see Cavill as Geralt.

I agree with Trondheim and Inquisitor G about Mikkelsen. I wonder if he was approached at all?
   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut






Burtucky, Michigan

 Trondheim wrote:
 Inquisitor Gideon wrote:
It should have been Mads Mikkelsen frankly. But we'll see what Cavill can do.


+| Mads Mikkelsen would have made for an amazing Geralt,



Yea no arguing there. That dude is an incredible actor though I'll wait and see what Cavill can do
   
Made in au
Owns Whole Set of Skullz Techpriests






Versteckt in den Schatten deines Geistes.

Well that didn't take long.

Still not 100% confirmed, but are we really shocked?

Industrial Insanity - My Terrain Blog
"GW really needs to understand 'Less is more' when it comes to AoS." - Wha-Mu-077

 
   
Made in us
Dwarf High King with New Book of Grudges




United States

 Tannhauser42 wrote:

I've played the games and read the books (in that order), and I never had any particular actors in mind for the title role (or any of the roles, really). What do y'all think of the casting?


Geralt is portrayed in the games as being wiry, and the games are how I think most people are aware of the character. Henry Cavill is not wiry, he's Hollywood buff.

I would have cast Jim Caviezel, or maybe Cillian Murphy.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2018/09/08 01:20:09


Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh. 
   
Made in gb
Norn Queen






 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Well that didn't take long.

Still not 100% confirmed, but are we really shocked?
Inb4TheLock for being "Political".

This is the reason I said the show is going to suck earlier. The writers are the usual crowd of "We're Bigots but it's ok when we do it". I'm not a fan of The Witcher and all it's plagiarised glory to begin with but this is just the final nail in the coffin for me.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2018/09/08 01:28:39


 
   
Made in au
Owns Whole Set of Skullz Techpriests






Versteckt in den Schatten deines Geistes.

 dogma wrote:
I would have cast Jim Caviezel
YES! Best choice.

All the time watching Person of Interest I was thinking "He's make a great Geralt!".

Industrial Insanity - My Terrain Blog
"GW really needs to understand 'Less is more' when it comes to AoS." - Wha-Mu-077

 
   
Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





That's a bit on the disappointing end. Seems like more of a "safe" choice then a good one. Meh.
   
Made in ca
Phanobi






Canada,Prince Edward Island

Pretty excited for this, after seeing MI:6 I realized that Cavill was a good actor and he was awesome in every fight scene he was in.

Give the guy some scars and the white hair and I think he will do a great job in the role.

   
Made in gb
Mighty Vampire Count






UK

 Ctaylor wrote:
I'm... okay with this.

Henry Cavill is a fine actor and did a great job in the Man from UNCLE.


yep - plus I know at least one woman who is now more likely to watch the show.

Never played the game myself.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/09/08 15:45:20


I AM A MARINE PLAYER

"Unimaginably ancient xenos artefact somewhere on the planet, hive fleet poised above our heads, hidden 'stealer broods making an early start....and now a bloody Chaos cult crawling out of the woodwork just in case we were bored. Welcome to my world, Ciaphas."
Inquisitor Amberley Vail, Ordo Xenos

"I will admit that some Primachs like Russ or Horus could have a chance against an unarmed 12 year old novice but, a full Battle Sister??!! One to one? In close combat? Perhaps three Primarchs fighting together... but just one Primarch?" da001

www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/528517.page

A Bloody Road - my Warhammer Fantasy Fiction 
   
Made in gb
Executing Exarch





 BaconCatBug wrote:
 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Well that didn't take long.

Still not 100% confirmed, but are we really shocked?
Inb4TheLock for being "Political".

This is the reason I said the show is going to suck earlier. The writers are the usual crowd of "We're Bigots but it's ok when we do it". I'm not a fan of The Witcher and all it's plagiarised glory to begin with but this is just the final nail in the coffin for me.


Not sure its the final nail, remember they cqn still mess up Triss and Ynne

"AND YET YOU ACT AS IF THERE IS SOME IDEAL ORDER IN THE WORLD, AS IF THERE IS SOME...SOME RIGHTNESS IN THE UNIVERSE BY WHICH IT MAY BE JUDGED." 
   
Made in us
Norn Queen






 Turnip Jedi wrote:
 BaconCatBug wrote:
 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Well that didn't take long.

Still not 100% confirmed, but are we really shocked?
Inb4TheLock for being "Political".

This is the reason I said the show is going to suck earlier. The writers are the usual crowd of "We're Bigots but it's ok when we do it". I'm not a fan of The Witcher and all it's plagiarised glory to begin with but this is just the final nail in the coffin for me.


Not sure its the final nail, remember they cqn still mess up Triss and Ynne


Ciris real world ethnicity has nothing to do with her character so its pretty much fine for her to be whatever. Same goes for every character in the show. It could be a 100% hispanic cast and it would have no bearing on the characters. Nationality was an issue in the world of witcher. Race in terms of humans vs non humans. But skin color? Its hard to be upset about skin color when there are literal vampires and were wolves and trolls killing people.


These are my opinions. This is how I feel. Others may feel differently. This needs to be stated for some reason.
 
   
Made in gb
Mighty Vampire Count






UK

 Lance845 wrote:
 Turnip Jedi wrote:
 BaconCatBug wrote:
 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Well that didn't take long.

Still not 100% confirmed, but are we really shocked?
Inb4TheLock for being "Political".

This is the reason I said the show is going to suck earlier. The writers are the usual crowd of "We're Bigots but it's ok when we do it". I'm not a fan of The Witcher and all it's plagiarised glory to begin with but this is just the final nail in the coffin for me.


Not sure its the final nail, remember they cqn still mess up Triss and Ynne


Ciris real world ethnicity has nothing to do with her character so its pretty much fine for her to be whatever. Same goes for every character in the show. It could be a 100% hispanic cast and it would have no bearing on the characters. Nationality was an issue in the world of witcher. Race in terms of humans vs non humans. But skin color? Its hard to be upset about skin color when there are literal vampires and were wolves and trolls killing people.


I found the Shanara tv series quite refreshing in this regard....

I AM A MARINE PLAYER

"Unimaginably ancient xenos artefact somewhere on the planet, hive fleet poised above our heads, hidden 'stealer broods making an early start....and now a bloody Chaos cult crawling out of the woodwork just in case we were bored. Welcome to my world, Ciaphas."
Inquisitor Amberley Vail, Ordo Xenos

"I will admit that some Primachs like Russ or Horus could have a chance against an unarmed 12 year old novice but, a full Battle Sister??!! One to one? In close combat? Perhaps three Primarchs fighting together... but just one Primarch?" da001

www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/528517.page

A Bloody Road - my Warhammer Fantasy Fiction 
   
Made in gb
Stone Bonkers Fabricator General




We'll find out soon enough eh.

 Lance845 wrote:
 Turnip Jedi wrote:
 BaconCatBug wrote:
 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Well that didn't take long.

Still not 100% confirmed, but are we really shocked?
Inb4TheLock for being "Political".

This is the reason I said the show is going to suck earlier. The writers are the usual crowd of "We're Bigots but it's ok when we do it". I'm not a fan of The Witcher and all it's plagiarised glory to begin with but this is just the final nail in the coffin for me.


Not sure its the final nail, remember they cqn still mess up Triss and Ynne


Ciris real world ethnicity has nothing to do with her character so its pretty much fine for her to be whatever. Same goes for every character in the show. It could be a 100% hispanic cast and it would have no bearing on the characters. Nationality was an issue in the world of witcher. Race in terms of humans vs non humans. But skin color? Its hard to be upset about skin color when there are literal vampires and were wolves and trolls killing people.


I think this point would be more valid if we were talking strictly about an adaptation of a book because of the popularity of the book, and people were getting pissy because they'd imagined the character in one way and they had chosen to cast differently. But the issue is we're not - the show is nominally an adaptation of the books, but the plain simple fact is it only exists because of the games and the popularity of those, and lots of people are going to feel it should reflect the previous adaptation of the story to a visual medium which has already firmly established what these characters are "supposed" to look like for many. Especially when it seems to have been a deliberate conscious choice to be "right on", in that the casting call is specifically for a BAME actor, rather than an open audition where a BAME actor happened to be the best person to put themselves forward.

And just to preempt the inevitable - I'm not upset by it, I have no feelings on it at all really since The Witcher is not one of the settings I'm particularly invested in. But I can see why someone who was invested as a result of the games would be annoyed, and I can also already see the legions of torch & pitchfork wielders mustering to declare anyone who did feel that way a monstrous racist.

I need to acquire plastic Skavenslaves, can you help?
I have a blog now, evidently. Featuring the Alternative Mordheim Model Megalist.

"Your society's broken, so who should we blame? Should we blame the rich, powerful people who caused it? No, lets blame the people with no power and no money and those immigrants who don't even have the vote. Yea, it must be their fething fault." - Iain M Banks
-----
"The language of modern British politics is meant to sound benign. But words do not mean what they seem to mean. 'Reform' actually means 'cut' or 'end'. 'Flexibility' really means 'exploit'. 'Prudence' really means 'don't invest'. And 'efficient'? That means whatever you want it to mean, usually 'cut'. All really mean 'keep wages low for the masses, taxes low for the rich, profits high for the corporations, and accept the decline in public services and amenities this will cause'." - Robin McAlpine from Common Weal 
   
Made in gb
Executing Exarch





 Mr Morden wrote:
 Lance845 wrote:
 Turnip Jedi wrote:
 BaconCatBug wrote:
 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Well that didn't take long.

Still not 100% confirmed, but are we really shocked?
Inb4TheLock for being "Political".

This is the reason I said the show is going to suck earlier. The writers are the usual crowd of "We're Bigots but it's ok when we do it". I'm not a fan of The Witcher and all it's plagiarised glory to begin with but this is just the final nail in the coffin for me.


Not sure its the final nail, remember they cqn still mess up Triss and Ynne


Ciris real world ethnicity has nothing to do with her character so its pretty much fine for her to be whatever. Same goes for every character in the show. It could be a 100% hispanic cast and it would have no bearing on the characters. Nationality was an issue in the world of witcher. Race in terms of humans vs non humans. But skin color? Its hard to be upset about skin color when there are literal vampires and were wolves and trolls killing people.


I found the Shanara tv series quite refreshing in this regard....


nonsense Welsh Elfs is flat out unacceptable And Kiwi Blackclads, inconceivable

"AND YET YOU ACT AS IF THERE IS SOME IDEAL ORDER IN THE WORLD, AS IF THERE IS SOME...SOME RIGHTNESS IN THE UNIVERSE BY WHICH IT MAY BE JUDGED." 
   
Made in gb
Norn Queen






 Lance845 wrote:
 Turnip Jedi wrote:
 BaconCatBug wrote:
 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Well that didn't take long.

Still not 100% confirmed, but are we really shocked?
Inb4TheLock for being "Political".

This is the reason I said the show is going to suck earlier. The writers are the usual crowd of "We're Bigots but it's ok when we do it". I'm not a fan of The Witcher and all it's plagiarised glory to begin with but this is just the final nail in the coffin for me.
Not sure its the final nail, remember they cqn still mess up Triss and Ynne
Ciris real world ethnicity has nothing to do with her character so its pretty much fine for her to be whatever. Same goes for every character in the show. It could be a 100% hispanic cast and it would have no bearing on the characters. Nationality was an issue in the world of witcher. Race in terms of humans vs non humans. But skin color? Its hard to be upset about skin color when there are literal vampires and were wolves and trolls killing people.
Which is why no-one got annoyed at Motoko Kusanagi being played by a white american actress.

Simple test, reverse the situation and decide if people would be mad. If I took a black fictional character, then hired a white person to portray them in a TV adaptation, would you be angry?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/09/08 20:44:13


 
   
Made in us
Norn Queen






Yodhrin wrote:
 Lance845 wrote:
 Turnip Jedi wrote:
 BaconCatBug wrote:
 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Well that didn't take long.

Still not 100% confirmed, but are we really shocked?
Inb4TheLock for being "Political".

This is the reason I said the show is going to suck earlier. The writers are the usual crowd of "We're Bigots but it's ok when we do it". I'm not a fan of The Witcher and all it's plagiarised glory to begin with but this is just the final nail in the coffin for me.


Not sure its the final nail, remember they cqn still mess up Triss and Ynne


Ciris real world ethnicity has nothing to do with her character so its pretty much fine for her to be whatever. Same goes for every character in the show. It could be a 100% hispanic cast and it would have no bearing on the characters. Nationality was an issue in the world of witcher. Race in terms of humans vs non humans. But skin color? Its hard to be upset about skin color when there are literal vampires and were wolves and trolls killing people.


I think this point would be more valid if we were talking strictly about an adaptation of a book because of the popularity of the book, and people were getting pissy because they'd imagined the character in one way and they had chosen to cast differently. But the issue is we're not - the show is nominally an adaptation of the books, but the plain simple fact is it only exists because of the games and the popularity of those, and lots of people are going to feel it should reflect the previous adaptation of the story to a visual medium which has already firmly established what these characters are "supposed" to look like for many. Especially when it seems to have been a deliberate conscious choice to be "right on", in that the casting call is specifically for a BAME actor, rather than an open audition where a BAME actor happened to be the best person to put themselves forward.

And just to preempt the inevitable - I'm not upset by it, I have no feelings on it at all really since The Witcher is not one of the settings I'm particularly invested in. But I can see why someone who was invested as a result of the games would be annoyed, and I can also already see the legions of torch & pitchfork wielders mustering to declare anyone who did feel that way a monstrous racist.


I agree that them specifically looking for a BAME actress is odd, but they might be trying to differentiate the different nations in witcher with more racial groups to help them stand out as more distinct. Since Ciri is so important, they might want to cast her FIRST and then go with her race for her father and so on. While a White person would easily be the viking guys (Skalds? What were they called again?) who were easily the most "white" of all the peoples in Witcher. Just throwing it out there as a potential reasoning.

What the games or books did doesn't matter. The show is going to bring in new audience and the new audience isn't going to give a gak about the game.

BaconCatBug wrote:Which is why no-one got annoyed at Motoko Kusanagi being played by a white american actress.

Simple test, reverse the situation and decide if people would be mad. If I took a black fictional character, then hired a white person to portray them in a TV adaptation, would you be angry?


People get mad about every fething thing. There is no decision they could have ever made that would not have made SOMEBODY mad.

As far as casting a white person in a traditionally black role, that would require that traditionally black character to have their race not be a part of the actual character. Unfortunately, most black characters in most media made in the last 100+ years are black for a reason. Black Manta is called Black Manta because he is a black person.



Black Lightning. Lots of people. White characters in many stories don't have their whiteness as a specific aspect of their character that helps define them, their values, and their goals. Find me a black character who in no way is defined by their blackness and it would probably be fine.

In fact, I can name you one. The Fox, from the comic version of Wanted, was a black chick.

Played by Angalina Jolie in the movie.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/09/08 21:32:31



These are my opinions. This is how I feel. Others may feel differently. This needs to be stated for some reason.
 
   
Made in us
Dwarf High King with New Book of Grudges




United States

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
 dogma wrote:
I would have cast Jim Caviezel
YES! Best choice.

All the time watching Person of Interest I was thinking "He's make a great Geralt!".


Fun fact: Jim Caviezel and Henry Cavill were both in The Count of Monte Cristo. Cavill played Albert.

Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh. 
   
 
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