The Witcher showrunner warns that it's 'really not' for kids

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Like, really not.

The Witcher is coming to television in an eight-part Netflix series starring Henry Cavill that's expected to air either this year or next. The first images of Cavill in character were a little, well, not what I expected, but he made enough of an impression that showrunner Lauren Hissrich proclaimed after it was announced, "He IS Geralt," which I take as encouraging. 

On one hand, I would think that this should go without saying. The Witcher games fully deserve their M rating, and not just because of the rampant virtual violence: Geralt's a smooth one with the ladies, and I'm not talking about his talent for friendly conversation. At the same time, it's understandable that Netflix would want to be very up-front about the nature of the series. It's not too much of a stretch to imagine someone expecting a Lord of the Rings-type family-friendly fantasy that the kids will enjoy for a couple hours while they try to get some work done, and as amusing as that might be in theory, it would not end well for anyone.  

Joking aside, I'm glad to hear that The Witcher isn't being watered down for the small screen. Geralt's world is rougher and more ribald than what we're used to seeing in mainstream fantasy fiction, and hopefully this means that fans will have the opportunity to enjoy it in all its ugly glory. Unfortunately, there's still no release date, but we'll keep you posted. 

Andy Chalk
Andy Chalk
US News Lead

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.