Andrzej Sapkowski complains about Netflix’s “The Witcher”? “I told them something, but they didn’t listen”

For several years now, it has finally enjoyed the interest it deserves also outside Poland. Although his “” has been translated into many languages ​​over the years, it was only computer games and the Netflix series that allowed it to gain international recognition.

As a special guest of the Vienna Comic Con, he patiently posed for photos with fans and signed his books. He also had the opportunity to answer – for the hundredth time – the same questions about creativity and advice for beginning authors. There was also a pin stuck in the Netflix balloon.

Andrzej Sapkowski jokes about “The Witcher” by Netflix

In an interview with the editor of the Austrian pop culture portal CerealKillerz.org, Andrzej Sapkowski kept a straight face for a long time. Without batting an eyelid, he answered questions about his creative process (“I sit down and write”) and whether he is preparing to write (“I am 76 years old, I have been reading books since I was five – I don’t need to do additional research because I have already done it”). and what he advises people who would like to write professionally (“Do something that will give you money, e.g. repairing computers, not writing”).

However, the editor asked about the presentation of characters and reality known from Sapkowski’s books in various adaptations. The author consistently distances himself from them:

Every adaptation I’ve seen is weird to me. It amazes me. My raw material when I finish work is letters. I don’t describe the images, I don’t see them. I use letters. I know that the reader will only see letters, not images, and only then will he imagine what I have described. Every visual adaptation is very strange to me – I look at it and think: “aha, so that’s how they saw it, it’s very interesting!” Of course, sometimes these interpretations are nice to me. Sometimes not. But I won’t dwell on it, he said.

However, the question about cooperation with Netflix clearly amused him. Perhaps he still remembered the producers’ announcements, which, before the first season of “The Witcher”, announced that all plots would not only be consulted with Sapkowski (and Bagiński), but also faithful to the original books. We remember how it turned out because it’s hard to forget. However, Sapkowski always defended the creators. He patiently explained that adaptation is not a faithful reproduction, but – exactly – an adaptation.

All in all I’m satisfied. It is far from my books, but the adaptations have that in common – he said in 2019 at a meeting at the University of Łódź.

Last weekend in Vienna, he had some more complaints about Netflix:

The shooting set was incredible. I suggested something to them, I gave them my ideas, but… they never listened. But that’s normal. “Who is this? Oh, it’s just the author, no one important,” he said.

And as he said this, he smiled. Here’s the proof:

Andrzej Sapkowski laughs Photo YouTube / staff

In Netflix’s “The Witcher” changes, changes, changes…

Netflix has so far produced three seasons of “The Witcher”. Each subsequent one was more and more distant from the original book. As a result, the production lost its main actor – Henry Cavill, a huge fan of Geralt (both from the books and from the games), no longer wanted to sign Netflix’s variations on Sapkowski’s prose and left the series. (played by Liam Hemsworth), but also deal with delays on set. These have resulted in ongoing strikes by actors and screenwriters in the US in recent months. Not even an approximate date has been given yet when we can expect the premiere of the fourth season of the series. It will certainly not be earlier than the end of 2024.