In the dark and fantastical world of Netflix’s The Witcher, formidable antagonists lurk in the shadows around every corner. For Geralt of Rivia who was portrayed by Henry Cavill until recently, the challenges come in the guise of not only powerful mages but also various monstrous creatures. As the White Wolf battled these otherworldly foes, the show’s impressive visual effects elevated the suspense and intensity. Some of these battles proved to be even more gripping than Geralt’s battles with Vilgefortz. 

The British actor once picked out his favorite monster that he had fought among the many. 

Henry Cavill picked this scary creature as his pick 

In December 2019, the first season of The Witcher was finally released on Netflix. One week after it arrived on the streaming platform, Henry Cavill spoke to The Wrap about his experiences of filming season 1. When asked which monster he had enjoyed fighting the most, the 40-year-old picked the one he had with Striga. This was in the third episode, during which his character spent the entire night battling it out with the monster. 

During the sequence, Geralt used King Foltest’s courtier: Ostrit who was in love with Princess Adda to lure Striga out. Since he managed to drag the fight on till dawn through Cavill’s exceptional sword-wielding skills, the curse was eventually lifted. Whether it was the fearsome Striga or the eerie Kikimora that appeared in the first episode, each monster was meticulously crafted by the show’s creators.

The Man of Steel actor also revealed the process that entailed their creation. 

How The Witcher breathed life into its many monsters

The Witcher‘s viewers mostly saw what the series had ultimately put out. Well, Cavill explained that it looked “very, very different” than what is shot behind the scenes. According to him, it was through “the editing process” that the show’s makers expressed their creative visions. For the fight with the Striga, the Black Adam actor explained that he was “fortunate enough” to have been granted a “stunt performer in a suit” to physically engage with.

Although he knew that effects would be added afterward, he was able to gauge a “fairly good idea” of how it would turn out. Apparently, this was not always the case. While some of the chilling realism of the series was a product of the stunt work that the actors performed, the majority of the magic happened in the editing department. Altogether, it turned the show into the thrilling spectacle for audiences it became.

Which monster fights of the Geralt of Rivia were your favorites? Do you think that the battles were more impressive in later seasons than the first one? Share your thoughts in the comments.