Screenwriter Beau DeMayo, who contributed to two episodes of The Witcher and the anime spin-off The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, spoke about his experience working on the hit series. It emerged that not everyone on Andrzej Sapkowski’s team was a fan of the source material or CD Projekt RED’s games.
“I was working on a series, especially The Witcher, where some writers did not love the books or openly disliked the games and even mocked the source material. It creates a perfect storm for morale and collaboration. You must respect the original work before you can add anything to its legacy.”
— Beau DeMaio
In 2020, series showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich explained that a love for the original material was not a prerequisite when hiring writers, a stance that sparked discussion about what makes a capable adapter. The conversation underscored a balance between reverence for the canon and the creative latitude needed to translate complex fantasy into engaging television.
When it comes to writing adaptations, are the best writers always the ones most familiar with the world? The answer is nuanced. Yes, familiarity with the source helps, but it is not the sole predictor of success. The Witcher team members were encouraged to read the books and appreciate the genre, yet the hiring process did not demand a fixed checklist of Sapkowski’s scientific lore or a catalog of fan references. The goal was to craft stories that honor the universe while offering fresh perspectives for screen audiences, even if some creators did not share a deep personal attachment to all aspects of the material.
— Lauren Hissrich
The third season of The Witcher saw its release in the summer of 2023, continuing to adapt the expansive world for television while balancing lore with character-driven narratives. In another note, a large-scale HD modification for the game experience of the early chapters had become available, reflecting the ongoing interest in the Witcher universe across media platforms.
Source attribution: VG Times