Lauren Schmidt Hissrichthe creative force behind it The witcher series, is opening up about fan reaction around Netflix’s hit fantasy series and the ongoing debate over how closely it should stick to the source material.
As the show prepares to conclude with its fifth season, Hissrich reflects on what it takes to adapt a world as rich and complex as Andrzej Sapkowski’S.
In a recent interview with Dexerto, Hissrich addressed the criticism head-on and explained his philosophy behind shaping The witcherit’s the last two seasons. According to her, the series will remain faithful to Sapkowski’s work and will definitely not make the same mistake game of Thrones Done.
“We won’t go beyond the books. Ultimately we rely on fantasy in the wonderful ways that Sapkowski introduced us to. So we knew the stories we had to end with.”
Both upcoming seasons, filmed back-to-back, will adapt Sapkowski’s latest novels Baptism of fire, The Tower of the SwallowAND Lady of the Lake. For Hissrich, reaching the end of the saga feels like an important milestone.
“A lot of TV shows don’t get the chance to do five seasons,” he said, describing the experience as “a huge celebration.”
Still, The witcher has not escaped controversy. Since it premiered, the show has faced pushback from purists who feel it strays too far from the original books or CD Projekt Red’s video games.
Hissrich acknowledged these frustrations, but emphasized that her job is to tell a coherent and engaging story for everyone, not just one corner of the fandom.
“There are book fans, video game fans and then there are fans who didn’t know anything about this world until the show existed. We can’t choose an audience. We have to remember what we’re doing, which is a television show.”
Adapt The witcher for Netflix it means balancing multiple canons while ensuring that the show is self-contained.
“You have to start weaving them together. You have to figure out how these adventures lead to our characters being where they’re supposed to be,” Hissrich said, noting that Netflix’s early renewal for seasons 4 and 5 gave the team the space to “write ourselves for that particular ending.”
And while she knows that some fans may never fully embrace her version of Geralt’s world, Hissrich remains confident that there is room for all interpretations.
“The books still exist. Nobody will take away the books. Nobody will take away the video games. I think everyone can have their version of The Witcher and this is this version.”
With The witcher heading into its final chapters, it looks like the show’s finale will honor Sapkowski’s world, but will do so on his own creative terms.
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
