The Witcher is set to return for another season. One fantasy author weighed in on the series and claimed it had issues because they didn’t listen to its former lead.

The Witcher is based on Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski’s book series. It’s a blend of fantasy, drama and adventure. It appealed to many and was later turned into a video by CD Projekt Red before Netflix picked it up for a series. The Witcher aired for three seasons, with Henry Cavill portraying the protagonist, Geralt of Rivia. Season 4 is coming up with Liam Hemsworth portraying Geralt after the character was recast. However, one fantasy author claimed it had issues because they didn’t listen to one of its actors with a vision for the series.

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Brandon Sanderson, who penned the hit books The Final Empire, The Way of Kings, Warbreaker, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and Words of Radiance, spoke with Polygon about the state of fantasy adaptations. During the interview, Sanderson was asked what among his projects he wanted to be adapted on screen if he had everything in control — budget, director, platform and everything. “I would absolutely pick Stormlight, and I would do it on one of the streaming services,” he said. “With an unlimited budget and unlimited creative control, I think I could make something really good. But who knows? I mean, The Rings of Power essentially had that, and it’s not very good. It’s fine, but is it the thing that you want?”

During the conversation, he brought up The Witcher out of nowhere. According to the writer, the Netflix series stumbles into some issues because the production failed to listen to Cavill. “I mean, I really think the key member is that visionary filmmaker,” he explained. “Epic fantasy has responded poorly to too much oversight from above. I think that was The Witcher’s problem. You had that visionary: It was Henry Cavill. And they didn’t want to listen to him. So, well, there you go.” Cavill left the show after three seasons because of its demanding schedule. However, there were speculations that he probably did it because he had another vision for his character. In a previous interview, he said he wanted the show to be “faithful to the source material.”

The Witcher has received a mixed reception since its debut. Among the things the viewers love about it are its spectacle, action, and characters. Many were convinced that Cavill’s casting was among the best moves because his portrayal of Geralt was impressive. For some, Cavill’s Geralt was the best part of the show. Regarding its faithfulness to the source material, those who read the books are more critical. The Witcher author previously claimed that he had some input for the Netflix show, but the production didn’t listen to him. Sapkowski acknowledged that he had no control over the series and jokingly said that he was just a “writer” and a “nobody,” so he wasn’t surprised they didn’t heed his advice.

With Hemsworth taking over the role, it remains unclear whether the reception for the upcoming season will be the same, especially since Cavill’s casting is considered its best element. Netflix had already unveiled the first look of Hemsworth as the monster-hunter protagonist and the initial reaction was warm, saying he looked like Cavill.

The Witcher Season 4 is expected to premiere in 2025.

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Source: Polygon