The Netflix series adaptation ofThe Witcherfranchise is in full swing, with some of the show’s major roles being cast, including Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia. However, one casting decision has stirred up quite a bit of controversy, and it’s enough that series showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich has decided to temporarily leave social media.
Hissrich announced on Twitter that she is going on a Twitter hiatus for an undetermined amount of time. In the tweet, Hissrich acknowledges the “hate” that has been directed atThe WitcherNetflix adaptation, but suggests that her decision to leave Twitter has more to do with her needing to “read less and write more.” Hissrich ends her tweet by promising fans she will be back soon with “more insight and more Roach,” the latter being Geralt’s horse from the video games.
While Hissrich suggests that her social media hiatus has more to do with needing to get her work done, one has to wonder if the Ciri casting backlash has played a role in her decision. For the uninitiated, reports last week indicated that Netflix is actively seeking tocast a minority actress in the role of Ciri, and that created some controversy as the character is traditionally depicted with white skin and white hair.
Some people feel that a minority actress playing Ciri isn’t a big deal, whereas others have expressed disappointment since her appearance would then not match the character in the games or novels. Regardless of where one falls on the issue, though, harassing the showrunner does not seem like the appropriate response.
Of course, the decision to cast a minority actress as Ciri isn’t the only controversial casting decisionThe Witcher TVseries has made. The aforementioned decision tocast Henry Cavill as Geralthas also been met with some controversy, as some feel he doesn’t look right for the role. However, when one considers Cavill’s passion for video games, it seems likely that he will do his best to do the character justice.
