While Henry Cavill may be the most famous actor to portray Geralt of Rivia, Doug Cockle, the voice of Geralt in CD Projekt Red's acclaimed RPG series, remains the definitive White Wolf for many gamers. Now, their Geralts converge: Cockle lends his iconic voice to Netflix's animated film, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep.

Interestingly, Cockle wasn't asked to emulate Henry Cavill or Liam Hemsworth's portrayals. He retained his established vocal approach, delivering the same gravelly tones fans have cherished for nearly two decades.

Cockle's signature Geralt voice originated during the first Witcher game's recording in 2005. He recalls the challenge: "The voice was very low in my register; I had to push it." Initially recording eight to nine hours daily, he experienced significant vocal strain. However, his vocal cords eventually adapted, a process he humorously compares to an athlete's muscle training.

The release of The Last Wish in English marked a turning point during The Witcher 2's development. Cockle explains, "The books provided insights into Geralt I hadn't grasped before. The developers initially emphasized Geralt's emotionlessness, but the books helped me understand that directive."

Cockle embraced Sapkowski's writing, drawing parallels to Tolkien's work. Season of Storms remains a favorite, a story he'd relish voicing in future adaptations. He describes it as "horrible and awful, yet thrilling," highlighting its graphic fight scenes as ideal anime or TV episode material.

In Sirens of the Deep, Cockle's Geralt shines, particularly in lighter moments. He highlights a campfire conversation with Jaskier, showcasing Geralt's softer side: "I enjoy Geralt's gravitas, but also appreciate those moments when he attempts humor, often unsuccessfully."

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Sirens of the Deep presented a unique challenge: speaking Mermaid. Cockle found it surprisingly difficult despite phonetic preparation. His return to video games in The Witcher 4, however, promises a smoother experience. With Ciri as the protagonist, Geralt takes a supporting role, requiring less dialogue than in previous games.

Cockle remains tight-lipped about The Witcher 4, expressing excitement about the shift to Ciri's perspective: "Shifting the focus to Ciri is a brilliant move, especially considering events in the books." He encourages readers to discover the reasons for themselves.

For more on The Witcher 4, explore our interview with its creators. To connect with Doug Cockle, watch The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep on Netflix, or find him on Instagram, Cameo, and X.