The Witcher soared as one of Netflix’s top shows, but it was not without its flaws. While the impeccable depiction of the fierce monster hunter by Henry Cavill, coupled with convincing performances from the cast and breathtaking cinematography, there was one aspect that repeatedly let down fans. It was the maker’s constant tendency to shift the storyline away from Andrzej Sapkowski’s original sources. 

Andrej Sapkowski recently shared his take on the show which was seemingly a sarcastic jab at the makers for not considering his suggestions. However, not many know that Henry Cavill had a similar experience during the making of The Witcher. 

Henry Cavill wanted to stick to the book 

Henry Cavill, an avid fan of The Witcher franchise in both its literary and gaming forms, desperately sought a role in the Netflix show upon learning about its development. However, he did not approve of the makers’ decision to veer from the original sources. In a 2021 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the showrunner, Lauren Schmidt Hissrich shared how Cavill would send Geralt’s original dialogues from Andrej Sapkowski’s books to Hissrich. 

Henry Cavill himself said during a 2021 interview with Collider that he “wanted to represent as much of a book-accurate Geralt as possible”. Allegedly, this creative difference led to the eventual departure of Cavill from the show. Not only Cavill but even Sapkowski wanted to cut ties with the show. He disengaged himself from the show’s development about which he spoke in an interview earlier this year. 

Andrzej Sapkowski addressed his dissatisfaction with the Netflix show ahead of his recent allegations of not giving him any creative control. But there was one aspect of the show that he was fond of. 

Andrzej Sapkowski’s thoughts on Netflix’s adapatation of The Witcher 

Andrzej Sapkowski gave an interview at the Taipei International Book Exhibition in January this year. When asked about his thoughts on his brainchild’s live-action adaptation, the author gave an ambiguous response saying, “I’ve seen better. I’ve seen worse”. He also denied his involvement with the adaptation. Sapkowski believed that there could never be any comparison between a book and its adaptation. However, during a 2019 interview with People, Sapkowski shared being satisfied with Henry Cavill’s work on the show. 

Sapkowski was “more than happy” with Cavill’s portrayal of Geralt and even compared him to Viggo Mortensen of Lord of the Rings. “He’s a real professional”, added the 75-year-old Polish fantasy writer. Though Cavill and Sapkowski found common ground in their discontent with The Witcher‘s deviation from the original source, they shared a mutual respect for each other’s commitment to the franchise. 

What do you think about Henry Cavill and Andrej Sapkowski’s mutual disapproval of The Witcher not following the original source? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!