The Witcher: 7 Strict Rules the Cast Has to Follow!
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The mysterious world of The Witcher is bound by many laws and traditions, such as the Law of Surprise. Similarly, the actors also had to follow a set of rules to bring this world to life. From intimate scenes to unique accents, let's dive into the behind-the-scenes secrets of The Witcher.
Rule #1: Prepare for Intimate Scenes
The Witcher is known for its memorable intimate scenes, especially those between Geralt and Yennefer. Contrary to what you might assume, the actors did not use body doubles for most of these scenes. Anya Chalotra, who portrays Yennefer, was so possessive of her character that she couldn't stand the idea of having a body double. The actress agreed to a body double only for Yennefer's very first intimate scene with Istredd. The crew always ensured that Chalotra was comfortable with the nudity and that it was only shown when it was integral to the plot and her character.
Rule #2: Find Your Voice
All actors were encouraged to find a suitable accent for their characters. Henry Cavill, who plays Geralt, did the most work in this regard. His voice in real life is completely different from Geralt's. Cavill's voice for Geralt is a mixture of many kinds of accents, which he refers to as a Rivian accent. This unique voice allowed Cavill to convey profound meaning with minimal dialogue.
Rule #3: Find Your Talent
This rule was especially important for Joey Batey, who plays Jaskier. As Jaskier is a bard, Batey was supposed to sing and play the lute. Luckily, he already knew how to do both. However, Batey didn't really enjoy singing the memorable tune of "Toss a Coin to Your Witcher," describing the song as "annoyingly catchy."
Rule #4: Learn to Fight… and Dance
Learning battle skills was crucial for the cast, especially for Cavill, who performed most of his stunts himself. At one point, he even suffered a significant injury on set. In addition to fighting, the cast also had to learn to dance. This was particularly important for scenes from balls and events, which are frequently shown in The Witcher.
Rule #5: Maintain Your Physique
Maintaining a certain physique was particularly important for Cavill. To get in shape for The Witcher, he teamed up with Dave Rienzi, who previously helped sculpt Dwayne Johnson's massive body. Cavill also consumed as many as 5,000 calories every day and stopped drinking water to look as shredded as possible for his shirtless scenes.
Rule #6: Don't Talk Too Much
Interestingly, many of Cavill's lines as Geralt were cut. This wasn't due to poor performance but rather because Cavill's portrayal was so nuanced and emotional that the showrunners decided that words weren't necessary for him. Cavill could make a huge impact with a single word or a short phrase.
Rule #7: Accept the Changes
As with any book-to-movie adaptation, many things were altered in the series. Being a Witcher enthusiast, Cavill didn't like all of these changes and tried to stand up to the writers. However, this led to his departure from the series after season three, with Liam Hemsworth taking over the role of Geralt.
The Witcher is a series that demands a lot from its cast, from physical fitness to emotional depth. These rules, while strict, helped the actors bring their characters to life and create a show that has captivated audiences worldwide.