A casting advertisement for the role of Ciri in the upcoming Witcher Netflix series has surfaced online. Unfortunately, while the context of the advertisement gives a very good picture of the Ciri who will appear in the show, it has been overshadowed by certain fans’ vitriolic reactions to learning that the ad seeks a BAME actress. (Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic.)

The advertisement has surfaced shortly after the announcement that Henry Cavill has been cast as Geralt of Rivia; suggesting that casting is still very much underway for the other roles. As such, fans should perhaps expect to wait a while longer before any more announcements are made about casting. The ad, which appeared on the website of the National Youth Centre of Great Britain, is for the role of Ciri. It gives fans a detailed look at how the character will be portrayed in the series, including her age and background. The ad specifically seeks a girl of 15 or 16; “who can play down to 13/14. Must not be older than 18.”

The Ad for Ciri in The Witcher Netflix Series

This certainly matches with what fans know about the story so far. The series plans to adapt Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels rather than the CD Projekt games. As such, fans should expect to see younger versions of the characters they might be familiar with. The CD Projekt Red series is an adaptation, of course; however, it is primarily set after the events of the novels. The ad also gives a detailed background for Ciri’s character; “CIRI can often be found rough-housing with the Palace hands instead of sitting in finery at the knee of the QUEEN CALANTHE, her grandmother. That is, until Cintra is massacred by the Nilfgaardians and CIRI is orphaned, left to traverse THE CONTINENT, alone. She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s a direct descendent of LARA DORREN, an Elven Mage – which is why everyone in our series is after her.”

“We follow CIRI as she evades her captors,” it continues; “and in the meantime, discovers her magical talents, her dark side, and the role she is to play in the coming apocalypse. We are looking for an extraordinary young talent to lead this series. She should be brave hearted and MUST have something truly special about her.”

The Controversy Surrounding the Ad

Interestingly, the ad also specifies that the role is for; “an 8 x one hour fantasy drama,” confirming that the series will be eight episodes long. The ad gives fans a picture of Ciri which is very true to the novels in terms of age and backstory. Unfortunately, some fans have taken umbrage at the fact that the ad is for a BAME actress; The fact that Ciri might not be white is apparently very upsetting. However, it should also be noted that so-called fans have been complaining about this very concern for months… regardless of the views of the writer himself.

— in its population, in every way (race, culture, gender, and yes, occasionally skin color, which he said he did not always specify). I’m not sure how people insinuate I’m destroying the books by recognizing that. I’m honoring the author’s own intentions. He told me so himself. — Lauren S. Hissrich (@LHissrich) May 11, 2018

In a tweet on the subject back in May, Lauren Hissrich, the series’ showrunner, made it very clear where she stood on the issue. Andrzej Sapkowski did not always specify skin colour in his novels; moreover, according to Hissrich, he told her personally (and publicly) that casting BAME actors and actresses would be; “honouring the author’s own intentions”. Unfortunately, for some so-called fans, the colour of an actor’s skin is apparently more important than their ability to act. However, this is hardly a phenomenon unique to The Witcher. Whatever ethnicity the actress cast as Ciri ends up being; what is clear from the ad is that Hissrich and her team are dedicated to staying true to the novels. That is undoubtedly a good thing.