The Witcher Writer Casually Confirms That Some Of The Show's Writers Disliked The Source Material

Season 3 of Netflix's flagship epic fantasy series "The Witcher" is slated to premiere on the streaming service in 2023. In the lead-up to its release, lead actor Henry Cavill revealed that he'll be vacating the role of Geralt of Rivia following the season's conclusion, after which Liam Hemsworth will take over for him. Naturally, plenty of fans are wondering if "The Witcher" can survive without Cavill.

This isn't the first time viewers have questioned the direction of "The Witcher." For example, the relationship between Netflix's "Witcher" adaptation and its literary source material has elicited some criticism. "The Witcher" TV show differs from the book series in a number of notable ways, including the addition of entirely new characters like the young elf Dara (Wilson Radjou-Pujalte). While taking liberties with source material isn't inherently an issue, "Witcher" veterans were unhappy with some of the show's particular changes, as evidenced by the fact that, when Cavill wished that "The Witcher" Season 3 will adhere to the books more closely, responses were largely positive.

As it turns out, the sometimes loose relationship "The Witcher" maintains with author Andrzej Sapkowski's novels and short stories may be at least partially the result of a writers room that's not entirely reverent of the "Witcher" franchise.

Beau DeMayo is the head writer on an upcoming animated Disney Marvel show titled "X-Men '97," which will serve as a revival of the classic "X-Men" cartoon that concluded in 1997 (via Variety). With development of this series underway, DeMayo fielded some questions through Instagram Stories, one of which concerns the time he spent writing on Netflix's "Witcher."

While this particular Story has since expired and is no longer public, The Direct republished an exchange in which a questioner asked DeMayo how he staffed "X-Men '97." DeMayo replied that he required all contributors to be fans of the show's source material, crediting a bad experience with the "Witcher" writers room for this decision.

"I've been on shows — namely 'Witcher' — where some of the writers were not or actively disliked the books and games (even actively mocking the source material). It's a recipe for disaster and bad morale," wrote DeMayo.

Since DeMayo didn't provide any further details in what is otherwise an aside in a statement about "X-Men '97," it's unclear just how pervasive this issue ever was, and whether or not such writers are still actively working on "The Witcher." Nevertheless, the loose-ish relationship "The Witcher" TV series maintains with its source material may not just be the result of creative risk-taking, but stem at least in part from these writers DeMayo is describing.