Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of the critically-acclaimed RPG series “The Witcher,” which is planned for eight episodes, is under scrutiny from some fans who have a problem with a recent picture that showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich posted of a diverse writer’s room.
A bit of backstory: “The Witcher” is a Polish video game about a monster hunter, also referred to as a “witcher,” named Geralt. The series is so loved by Poland that the country’s former prime minster, Donald Tusk, once gifted a copy of the second game in the series to Barack Obama.
But in 2015, culture critic Tauria Moosa wrote an article that discussed to game’s racial issues, pointing out that in “The Witcher 3,” “all humans are white and every other being is non-human,” continuing to say it’s “not exactly friendly or inclusive of people of color. A game can include a diverse variety of monsters, but not a diverse variety of skin colors or races for humans?”
Now, Hissrich’s recent tweet that showed a diverse writer’s room with people of many cultures has reignited the discussion.
I can’t imagine a better day.
The #Witcher writers’ room opened today, and it was full of ideas and banter and cupcakes and creativity and darkness and champagne and this hilarious picture that’s better than any of the posed group selfies I attempted.
It’s happening. ♥️ pic.twitter.com/jUn9MPwf9L
— Lauren S. Hissrich (@LHissrich) May 8, 2018
One person asked Hissrich if she “would deviate from the books’ races and cultures to include minorities?” Basically, people are implying that the team is going to go against the game’s established culture in order to seem “diverse.”
Hissrich responded to these concerns through numerous tweets, assuring fans that it’s not her mission to ruin “The Witcher.”
Here are a select few:
First things first, I welcome the writers. I explain that we’re more than a team. We’re a family. We’re the foundation for hundreds of people who will make this tv show, and we’re not only gonna be great storytellers, we’re gonna be fucking great human beings along the way.
— Lauren S. Hissrich (@LHissrich) May 10, 2018
We decide on something. Then we change it an hour later because we find something else even better that highlights this character’s journey, or this super cool monster that’s just PERFECT for this episode. We do this all as a room. But TWIST: we write episodes as individuals.
— Lauren S. Hissrich (@LHissrich) May 10, 2018
I ask the writers to “own” their episodes: they bear the responsibility of ushering it from a kernel of an idea to fully-executed script. I oversee the whole process, but each writer needs to be fully invested in the vision and quality, or the show doesn’t work. (Again: teamwork)
— Lauren S. Hissrich (@LHissrich) May 10, 2018
She ended with a final tweet describing her thoughts on the writing process.
“For me, a script is a living, breathing thing. I’m not God. I don’t determine All Things. TV doesn’t have space for ego or assholes, because without all the people doing their jobs, it collapses. We all own it. Together.”