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Nowadays, it seems we're seeing more and more video game adaptations. We're talking big-budget TV series to blockbuster films. But while the stories and worlds make the leap to the screen, one thing is often left behind. That's the original performers who brought those characters to life. And that’s exactly what Baldur’s Gate 3 performance director and actor Aliona Baranova is calling out.

Speaking during a panel at FanX's Tampa Bay Comic Convention, moderated by Collider’s Maggie Lovitt, Baranova expressed her disappointment over how video game audiences are often ignored in screen adaptations. When studios adapt video games into shows or movies, they often recast major roles with big-name actors, ignoring the game actors who made those characters iconic.

“I feel like it’s a shame that the video game audience is being overlooked when it comes to screen projects. We see from you guys how dedicated you are…...

Hollywood has demonstrated a willingness to take from video games, particularly in recent years, when the quality of adaptations continues to increase. The worlds of games are mined, their aesthetics lifted, and audiences poached when it comes time for a live-action version of the story to be told. But when it’s time to bring those beloved characters to the screen, the performers who gave them life are all too often left behind in the loading screen.

Aliona Baranova, who’s watched the industry embrace video games as IP goldmines while continuing to treat their casts as invisible, commented on the inequality video game actors face during a Baldur's Gate 3 anniversary panel moderated by Collider's Maggie Lovitt at FanX's Tampa Bay Comic Convention. “I feel like it’s a shame that the video game audience is being overlooked when it comes to screen projects,” Baranova said. “We see from...

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2025 is halfway over, and for the most part, films this year have been massively disappointing, including the supposedly final Mission: Impossible film and most of the Netflix original films that came out this year. While it is true that most Netflix original films that were released this year are not that good, there were also some extremely entertaining films, from Tom Hardy‘s gritty action thriller film Havoc to Vince Vaughn‘s touching comedy film Nonnas. So, we decided to compile a list of the best Netflix original films that came out in 2025.

Exterritorial Credit – Netflix

Exterritorial is a German action thriller film written and directed by Christian Zübert. The 2025 film follows Sara Wulf, a former Special Forces soldier visiting the US Consulate in Germany with her son, but when he suddenly goes missing, she does everything she can to find him.

Features the voices of: Michael Biehn, Doug Cockle, Lauren Holt, Jeff Leach, Cherami Leigh, Andrew Morgado, Rick Gonzalez | Written by Micho Robert Rutare | Directed by Dan Trachtenberg

The Predator series saw a strong revival with Dan Trachtenberg’s historical entry, Prey. He returns with Predator: Killer of Killers, an animated anthology that pits Predators against warriors from across human history.

The film unfolds across three time periods: In 841, a Viking shieldmaiden seeks revenge on the man who killed her father. In 1629, two samurai brothers clash following their father’s death. And during World War II, a young American pilot tries to prove himself. In each tale, these warriors face a deadly threat from beyond the stars.

Prey reinvigorated the Predator franchise by taking it back to basics, offering the kind of historic matchup fans had long hoped for. Since then, there’s been speculation about potential foes for the Predators: Roman centurions,...

[Editor's Note: This article is reviewed and updated on a weekly basis.]

It's been five whole years since Disney+ arrived in the UK, changing the streaming game almost overnight and making the daily struggle to choose what to watch next that bit harder. (We know — poor us!) Armed with the Infinity Gauntlet of IP — Marvel, Disney, Star Wars, Pixar, and Fox — and an ever-growing catalogue of offerings pooled from elsewhere, the House of Mouse has created a veritable content utopia where there truly is something for everyone. How many other platforms do you know where you can observe the mechanics of fascism and the cost of revolution through the lens of Star Wars (Andor), cross the Polynesian horizon with a demigod (Moana 2), see Timmy C rock out as a rebel youth Bob Dylan (A Complete Unknown), and see Vikings go toe-to-toe with the Predator (Predator: Killer Of Killers) all without having to switch streamers?

When faced with a platform where you...

Ever since The Witcher 4 was announced at the Game Awards 2024, CD Projekt Red has been facing backlash for choosing Ciri as the main lead. For whatever reason, the players are unhappy; it’s a fact that Ciri is and will be the protagonist, no matter what. While a specific group of fans wants Ciri to be replaced by longtime protagonist Geralt, developers think otherwise.

The seeds of this were sown a decade ago when Geralt was training Ciri in The Witcher 3. So, whether you root for the new Witcher in charge or not, from now on, she’s going to be the one to slay the monsters.

Developers confirm that Ciri won’t be replaced as The Witcher 4‘s protagonist

It’s a brave and perhaps a good call from the developers for choosing not to replace Ciri as the main protagonist of the upcoming The Witcher 4. Because canonically, this transition was supposed to happen,...

Predator: Killer of Killers has broken a Rotten Tomatoes audience score record for the franchise. The streaming-exclusive animated movie, which was co-directed by Prey's Dan Trachtenberg, is the eighth feature-length installment in the sci-fi horror franchise and follows Yautja predators landing on Earth in three different timelines, fighting a Viking warrior (Lindsay Lavanchy) in 841, a ninja (Louis Ozawa) in feudal Japan, and a pilot (Rick Gonzalez) in World War II. The Predator: Killer of Killers cast also includes Michael Biehn, Doug Cockle, Lauren Holt, and Felix Solis.

Rotten Tomatoes has now aggregated more than 500 user reviews for Predator: Killer of Killers, which have given the movie a 91% Popcornmeter score thanks to an average rating of 4.5 out of 5. Audiences are particularly praising its innovative storytelling, emotionally complex character work, and expansion of franchise lore. This gives the movie the best Popcornmeter score of the franchise, beating out the 87% score earned by the original 1987 movie.

The latest and sixth film in the legendary Predator franchise is already a favorite among critics, right in time for its streaming release. Predator: Killer of Killers is set to debut nationwide on Hulu on Friday, June 6, 2025, and internationally on Disney+. And as of this writing, the sci-fi sequel has earned a near-perfect score of 98%on Rotten Tomatoes based on 41 reviews, making history for the franchise as the highest of all the installments, including crossover movies.

Co-directed by Dan Trachtenberg, who previously directed the fifth Predator movie, Prey, and is behind the upcoming Badlands, Predator: Killer of Killers is a riveting anthology that follows "three of the fiercest warriors in human history.” These warriors, according to the film’s synopsis, are a Viking raider guiding her young son on a bloody quest for revenge, a ninja in feudal Japan who turns against his Samurai brother in a brutal battle for succession,...

“Predator: Killer of Killers” looks to continue the hot streak of the iconic film franchise.

Following in the footsteps of 2022’s “Prey,” the latest film in the Predator series – “Predator: Killer of Killers” – looks to expand the story further. It represents the first animated foray for the series and follows a trio of warriors from different eras squaring off against the titular Predator.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new movie, how to watch “Predator: Killer of Killers” right now and where to expect it on streaming.

When does “Predator: Killer of Killers” come out?

“Predator: Killer of Killers” released on Friday, June 6.

Is “Predator: Killer of Killers” streaming or in theaters?

“Predator: Killer of Killers” is an exclusively streaming film. It’s streaming on Hulu beginning Friday, June 6.

It is the second film in the franchise to release on the streaming service following “Prey” in 2022. Both...

The new animated movie Predator: Killer of Killers is out now on Hulu, marking the triumphant return of Prey director Dan Trachtenberg to the franchise. Killer of Killers is wildly original for a Predator movie, breaking from the series' usual formula to deliver an epic experience. This movie primarily takes place in three different eras: the Viking age, feudal Japan, and World War II-era Europe. Each part of the anthology film sees a different group of humanity's deadliest killers face off against the Predator, with very bloody results.

If you've just watched Predator: Killer of Killers, first, take a deep breath. Hell of a movie, right? Now, you might be curious about who plays all the characters from the film, especially if you recognized one or two of its more well-known voice cast members. We've got you covered.

Predator: Killer of Killers voice actors A scene still from 20th Century Studios' Predator: Killer Of Killers,...

The new animated Predator movie Predator: Killer of Killers is not what you're expecting. The second movie in the franchise from Prey director Dan Trachtenberg contains a number of notable firsts for the series, pushing it into new and exciting waters. It's the first animated Predator movie. It's also the first to break successfully from the tried-and-true formula that almost every single previous film has followed, where a human is hunted by a Predator seeking the most dangerous prey it can find on the planet Earth. Yes, it has that...but it also has so much more. And of course, it's the first time we see a Predator on the hunt in settings such as the Viking age, feudal Japan, and World War II Europe.

I've seen Predator: Killer of Killers and have been dying to discuss it. I'm going to be keeping this review spoiler-free, so that you can...

After the news last month that Dead by Daylight would be getting a crossover with The Witcher, Behaviour Interactive has made the big reveal with The Witcher Collection. Available now, the collection brings outfits inspired by iconic Witcher characters Geralt of Rivia, Yennefer, Ciri, Triss, the Leshen, and Eredin.

Geralt and The Leshen will be appearing as themselves, through Legendary Outfits for Vittorio Toscano and The Artist. The remaining characters will appear as Outfits for Kate Denson, Sable Ward, Mikaela Reid, and The Knight. And as mentioned last month, Doug Cockle has reprised his role as Geralt, recording new voice lines for the Witcher’s Legendary Outfit.

And speaking of The Witcher, the anticipated fourth entry in the series made an appearance of sorts at the State of Unreal 2025 showcase as an Unreal Engine 5 Tech Demo. At the event, CD Projekt Red joined Epic Games on stage to present the video seen below,...

Mike Pondsmith just can’t help himself. The creator of the original Cyberpunk tabletop RPG has once again demonstrated the classic consultant’s dilemma: knowing too much and sharing just enough to make marketing teams break into cold sweats.

During the Digital Dragons 2025 conference, Pondsmith casually dropped some juicy details about the highly secretive Project Orion—the codename for CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 sequel. What started as a simple question about his involvement quickly turned into an impromptu reveal party that nobody at Cdpr had even the slightest thought of scheduling.

“Chicago gone wrong”: A new cyberpunk playground emerges

The revelation came when Pondsmith described his recent visit to the development studio. Despite literally saying he wouldn’t tell us more, he immediately proceeded to do exactly that, confirming that players will explore a second city alongside Night City in the sequel:

I spent a lot of time...

It’s now been 10 years since the release of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the final installment in Geralt of Rivia’s story as told by CD Projekt Red. The trilogy capper was such a hit that it not only won Game of the Year, but prompted Netflix to move forward with a live-action version of the series led by Henry Cavill, who Liam Hemsworth will replace in Season 4 and beyond. CD Projekt Red announced last year that The Witcher 4 was in the works, but the next game in the series would focus on Geralt’s mentor, Ciri.

This was met with blowback by fans who claim it’s “woke” to now have the main character be a woman after it was previously a man. This was a ridiculous claim from the start, as Ciri is an extremely well-developed character in The Witcher 3, and the ending also set her up...

Doug Cockle, voice actor behind Geralt of Rivia, has something to say to so-called fans of the series who complain The Witcher 4 has "gone woke". The sequel is the first game in the series to feature a woman as its main and only protagonist. In a narrative choice apparently surprising to some fans of the series, Geralt's adoptive daughter Ciri is stepping into the spotlight after her major role in The Witcher 3. These fans made their discontent apparent when The Witcher 4 was announced at The Game Awards, spamming the chat with "woke" - used here as a pejorative.

But in a video interview with Fall Damage (via IGN), Geralt's voice actor, Doug Cockle, had words for players who complained about this development: "That's just stupid. It's not woke. There's nothing woke about it. It's a cool character from The Witcher, and they're going to focus on that character.I think that's awesome.

With Dead by Daylight celebrating its 9th anniversary, developer Behaviour Interactive had plenty of exciting news in store. Taking the stage at Pax East today, it was announced that the long-awaited Five Nights at Freddy’s crossover will have Springtrap will be the game’s latest Killer. Not only that, but Dead by Daylight will see The Witcher and The Boulet Brothers make an appearance in the form of a series of cosmetics this summer.

Revealed to be the most requested license in Dead by Daylight’s history, Five Nights at Freddy’s Springtrap will add a unique angle to the collaboration, as it will be the first time ever the character is playable in a game. Details about Springtrap’s inclusion are still to be revealed, but Behaviour Interactive did tease a few details. For one, a Springtrap Legendary Outfit will be released letting players embody the “Yellow Rabbit” version of the character,...

Platform game Astro Bot led the winners of the 2025 BAFTA Games Awards, which were handed out in London on Tuesday evening, earning five honors, including for best game of the year. The psychological horror game Still Wakes the Deep received three gaming BAFTAs, including two performance honors.

Action-adventure Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II had led the pack with 11 nominations, ahead of Astro Bot and Still Wakes the Deep with six each, with the likes of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Lego Horizon Adventures, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth also earning nods. All contenders for the honors were released between Nov. 25, 2023, and Nov. 15, 2024.

During Tuesday evening’s ceremony in London, Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh took to the stage to hand the BAFTA for a performer in a leading role in a game to Alec Newman for his role as Cameron McLeary in Still Wakes the Deep.

Japanese composer Yoko Shimomura received...

The era of the sword and axe is nigh, as Netflix has secretly begun production on the fifth and final season of The Witcher. The streamer's flagship fantasy series is based on the novels by Polish author, Andrzej Sapkowski, with Henry Cavill initially playing Geralt of Rivia in the show's first three seasons. Liam Hemsworth took over the role after Cavill departed for unknown reasons for the final two seasons. Season 4 has wrapped shooting and is scheduled to be released later this year. But Netflix appears to want to close the book on its divisive fantasy series quickly by moving straight into production on Season 5.

While fans are still waiting for Season 4 to introduce Liam Hemsworth's iteration of Geralt of Rivia, Netflix has already moved ahead with the production of the actor's final season as the character. The scoop comes via What's On Netflix, who revealed that production on Season 5 has begun in South Africa.

History has a funny way of repeating itself in the gaming industry. Just two months after CD Projekt Red’s controversial announcement about The Witcher 4, Insomniac Games finds itself walking a similarly thorny path with Marvel’s Spider-Man 3.

Two studios, two heroes, two different breakup letters. | Image Credit: Insomniac Games

Both beloved franchises are shifting focus from their iconic protagonists, but while one studio’s approach has fans ready to storm the castle with pitchforks, the other might have found a way to keep the peace. It’s a tale of two transitions, and the devil’s in the details.

The question isn’t just about who gets to be the hero anymore—it’s about how you handle letting go of characters that players have spent hundreds of hours embodying.

When passing the torch becomes a wildfire

The gaming community hasn’t exactly been throwing roses at CD...

The Witcher evoking one of Disney's most famous movies likely wasn't on anyone's 2025 anime controversy bingo card, and yet the unexpected comparison has emerged all the same. Netflix's latest anime Witcher spinoff, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, has 'flooded' fan circles, raising questions about creative inspiration versus derivativeness.

Released just last week, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep has earned mixed reviews thus far, sitting around 60% on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing. Consensus might agree on the feature's haunting underwater sequences and ethereal mermaid designs, but eyebrows rise over what seems like undeniable similarities to Disney's 1989 classic, The Little Mermaid, as recently addressed by the director in a new interview.

Related'He Is the One True Geralt': New The Witcher Movie Director Explains 'Irreplaceable' Casting Choice

The director of The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep praises Doug Cockle as the one true Geralt of Rivia after...

The following contains spoilers for The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, now streaming on Netflix.

It's safe to say that after Netflix picked up The Witcher and produced a live action adaptation starring Henry Cavill, the franchise's fan count increased exponentially. Many were already into the games, comics, and, of course, the writings of Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, but Netflix expanded the reach even more.

The streaming service recently released a spin-off anime film that follows Geralt of Rivia, as he takes on a side quest during the events of The Witcher Season 1. The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep opens with Geralt and his aide, Jaskier, heading to the small principality of Bremervoord. The anime film ultimately leads to a blood feud between the humans and merpeople. It remixes The Little Mermaid, both in a good way and in a bad way. Unfortunately, the negative outweighs the positive by the time the credits roll.

Based on the Short Story ‘A Little Sacrifice’ published in ‘Sword of Destiny’, ‘The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep’ expands the rich Witcher lore with a gorgeous animation. Ever since 1986, The Witcher franchise has made a tremendous impact on the fantasy genre. Whether through the legendary writings of Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski or the fan-loved award-winning video game series by CD Projekt Red, the series stands strong to this day with a new entry to the game series being announced to be in development back in December 2024 during the Game Awards. Unlike other High Fantasy pieces, The Witcher is one of the few that showcase a more nuanced world with complex detailed characters grounded in a sort of reality, a world where morality stands in a grey zone and the line between good and evil is blurred by perspective. In Netflix’s ‘The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep’ Director Kang Hei Chul...

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep.The newest addition to The Witcherfranchise is the animated film The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, which features Geralt (Doug Cockle) and Jaskier (Joey Batey) as it adapts Andrzej Sapkowski's "A Little Sacrifice," which is a short story found in Sword of Destiny. The ever-growing franchise has ventured into animation before with The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, which served as a prequel that explains the declining Witcher population and introduced Vesemir (Theo James). Though Nightmare of the Wolf set up The WitcherSeason 2 and even showed a young Geralt, the Sirens of the Deep is even more interconnected with the story fans know. Not only does it center on the series' main characters, but the story takes audiences back to the events of Season 1 during the time Geralt and Jaskier traveled together, and it even references...

It’s Valentine’s Day, and this week brought plenty of new horror movies for you to cuddle up on the couch with. In addition to Terrifier 3 slashing its way into streaming, Scott Derrickson’s latest horror movie is now available at home, and that’s just the beginning of the lineup.

Here’s all the new horror that released February 10 – February 14, 2025!

For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.

What if the horror movie’s audience served as the monster menacing its characters in real-time? The fourth wall won’t protect you from Delicate Arch, now streaming on Screambox.

Director Matthew Warren shatters reality with his feature debut in which four college kids with fracturing relationships take a camping trip in order to escape an ecological disaster.

Alone in the desert, they begin to suspect that their reality might not be as it seems...

The weekend of February 14, 2025, offers an impressive line-up of new movies in theaters and on streaming. Those wanting to hit the big screens with popcorn in hand will have a choice between the next chapter of an iconic hero in Captain America: Brave New World or the adorable antics of one of the most beloved bears in Paddington in Peru. Netflix offers the anticipated animated film in The Witcher franchise, with The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep. Meanwhile, Apple TV+ adds what may be a bit of a sleeper hit of the month in the dark mystery feature, The Gorge.

Other weekend highlights include the long overdue return of a beloved character in the romantic comedy Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy on Peacock, the toe-tapping Waitress: The Musical on Max, and the reality-warping horror of The Dead Thing comes to Shudder.

'Captain America: Brave New World'...

This article discusses events in The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep and will contain spoilers.

The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep adapts the short story written by Andrzej Sapkowski, A Little Sacrifice, which takes inspiration from The Little Mermaid. Knowing the dark and gritty routes that The Witcher stories go (as seen in the Netflix TV series as well as 2021’s Nightmare of the Wolf), Sirens of the Deep had every chance to come out with a nuanced take on the classic fairytale.

Somehow, Disney’s 1989 renaissance classic did everything better. Sirens of the Deep was a well-animated production that unfortunately disappointed viewers who were looking forward to a well-written, bloodstained spin on a precious story about a mermaid princess. It not only perplexed fans who've read the original source material — which the film strays from — but also falls flat on its own plot, characters and climactic final battle.

The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep...

The following contains spoilers forThe Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, now streaming on Netflix.

Netflix's The Witcher universe continues to grow with the addition of a new animated movie. The Witcher has had a tumultuous relationship with its audience throughout the years, and no part of the universe that Netflix is building escapes that dynamic. Yet, Sirens of the Deep is probably one of the most authentic Witcher experiences that fans will get outside of the first season of the main series. Bolstered by an incredible sense of visual style and a wonderful voice performance by Witcher legend Doug Cockle, Sirens of the Deep strives to deliver an exciting adventure. However, despite its strengths, its weakness severely weighs it down.

Sirens of the Deep adapts the story of "A Little Sacrifice" from Sword of Destiny, which in and of itself is a play on the folktale The Little Mermaid, most...

The following contains spoilers for The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, now streaming on Netflix.

As The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep unravels, fans get to witness a highly anticipated story that takes place in Season 1 of the Netflix continuity. This anime movie adapts a tale, "A Little Sacrifice," from Andrzej Sapkowski's short-story collection, Sword of Destiny. It pokes and prods at the love that Geralt of Rivia, the Witcher, has for Yennefer. He is torn if he should be loyal to her, especially as she initially views him as a tool in her grudge against her enemies.

His friend and bard, Jaskier, accompanies him as they journey to Bremervoord for some monster-hunting. They parted ways with Yennefer, so the best solution to heal Geralt is to murder creatures, earn money, and attain peace. Yennefer haunts the Witcher, after all. Unfortunately, they witness how wicked humans and merpeople can...

The Witcher universe is expanding with a new animated film, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep! The movie is now streaming on Netflix, and it's a welcome addition to the streamer as we await a 2025 release date for the highly-anticipated The Witcher season 4.

The fourth season of the fantasy drama has been confirmed for a 2025 release. So that's official and we know it's coming this year. The announcement was a part of an epic day of updates by Netflix where the streamer dropped news about all the content that's coming this year. Thankfully, season 4 is one of the shows to expect in 2025! Which should be the case since season 3 premiered all the way back in July 2023. It's been a long time!

Image: Netflix

Unfortunately Netflix hasn't shared an exact release date just yet, but I hope that's coming really soon. As previously announced, actor Liam Hemsworth is taking over the...

The Witcher is back on Netflix, and it's as divisive as ever. Sirens of the Deep is the latest anime offering from the world of The Witcher, hoping to achieve the same success as 2021's Nightmare of the Wolf. Unfortunately, Sirens of the Deep has instead embodied the spirit of the live-action The Witcher series, which once starred Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia (with Liam Hemsworth set to replace him), by ushering in some incredibly mixed opinions and reviews.

The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep is now streaming on Netflix and currently holds a 64% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie is very loosely based on the short story "A Little Sacrifice" by Andrzej Sapkowski, and follows Geralt as he attempts to stop a war between an undersea kingdom of mer-people and a coastal city. While Sirens of the Deep was a middling success with critics, general audiences haven't...

Everything you need to know about The Witcher Sirens of the Deep ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

The Witcher Sirens of the Deep released on February 11, 2025, on Netflix, and the animated fantasy drama film takes the audience back to The Continent. Doug Cockle is back as the voice behind Geralt of Rivia, much to the joy and excitement of fans.

The actor recently spoke about being a part of The Witcher universe again with the movie and what the viewers can expect from the movie directed by Kang Hei Chul. Doug, who has voiced the character in the popular video games, has revealed what it was like returning to the role of the White Wolf.

Doug Cockle On Being Back As Geralt In The Witcher Universe

During a conversation with Entertainment Weekly, the actor revealed that he was not expecting to be asked to return as the voice of Geralt. He said...

Netflix’s “The Witcher” puts its spin on “The Little Mermaid” in “The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep.” Set during the events of Season 1, the new animated film adapts from Andrzej Sapkowski’s short story “A Little Sacrifice” (which was itself inspired by the classic fairytale).

The film follows Geralt and Jaskier to a seaside town to investigate attacks, only to wind up in the middle of a long-brewing conflict between the humans and merpeople before it turns into all-out war. The adaptation brings some of its own spin to the tale, featuring voices that “Witcher” fans will recognize from the games and live-action series alike — as well as some newcomers.

Here’s your guide to the cast of “The Witcher: Sirens of The Deep,” which characters they play and where you’ve seen (or heard) them before.

(Netflix / Getty Images) Doug Cockle as Geralt of Rivia

Doug Cockle returns...

Lovejoyish dude with magical powers wanders into a seaside kingdom where merpeople and regular humans are at loggerheads

This animated feature is part of the larger Witcher fantasy franchise which started with short stories by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski and has evolved to survive on all manner of platforms, from video games and comics to live-action TV series and films. Thanks to the wealth of wiki knowledge out there, you can get the gist pretty quickly. There’s a dude with magical powers, fearsome pectorals (and the platinum hair of a Finnish metal band lead singer) named the Witcher, Aka Geralt (voiced here by Doug Cockle); he wanders around a medieval-ish countryside battling monsters, partly for hire and partly out of the goodness of his own gruff heart. He’s like a ronin or a knight or TV-show amateur detective of the Lovejoy vintage, but with a sword. Geralt’s...

We have seen Geralt of Rivia go on myriad adventures in different media, from his days as a literary monster slayer to becoming a video game icon and making the jump to live-action — while never losing his quiet, grunt-heavy demeanor. Now, the titular Witcher is becoming something new: an animated character in “The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep.” This is the first time the character stars in a feature animated film, and for director Kang Hei Chul and studio Mir, it was an exciting challenge to reconcile the different portrayals of the character.

“The real task was capturing these characters’ unique charms and identities,” director Kang told IndieWire via email. “We carefully studied each character’s mannerisms by examining the existing novels, games, and series. Our goal was to faithfully portray Geralt’s cynical and tough persona while also hinting at his inner struggles.”

Part of what makes this take...

The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep emerges as an animated rendition that draws its inspiration from a heritage of folklore and myth originating in Eastern Europe. The Witcher universe has evolved from literary works to interactive games and televised dramas, reflecting shifts in artistic expression across different regions.

In this installment, the animated format finds its place alongside the live-action series, presenting a tale that explores the tension between human ambition and the mysterious forces of the natural world.

Based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s short narrative “A Little Sacrifice,” the film reinterprets its source material with a visual style that pays attention to traditional artistic methods while embracing innovative imagery. It reimagines maritime legends and the delicate ties between human characters and supernatural beings, a treatment that captivates fans who value narratives enriched by historical nuance.

Viewers encounter a cinematic experience that fills narrative gaps within the live-action series while...

Nilfgaard’s quest for dominance isn’t the only thing growing on the Continent. The Witcher universe has gotten a little bigger with the animated film The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, streaming now only on Netflix.

The film dives into a centuries-old conflict between humans and merpeople. Doug Cockle, who voices the sword-swinging hero Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher video game series and The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, said to Netflix at Geeked Week 2024, “That’s right! Very soon Geralt is going to be back in action battling not only man and monsters, but also merpeople.”

As Sirens of the Deep bursts to the surface, you’ll probably have a few questions. Keep reading for all the wisdom on the movie’s plot, cast, and more.

The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep debuted on Feb. 11.

Take a trip deeper into the Continent. As explained during Geeked Week...

Humans are obsessed with space and the unimaginable horrors that potentially lie in the vastness of the void, but we don’t give an equal amount of attention to the depths of the water bodies that surround us. I think that there are two contradictory reasons for that. On the one hand, since it’s right in our backyard, it doesn’t feel as mysterious or unreachable. On the other hand, it’s actually daunting that something as scary as the oceans and seas is sitting around us with the ability to engulf us in a matter of seconds. This mixture of skepticism and lack of appreciation is sort of reflected in the ocean’s cinematic depiction as well, along with the fact that shooting on water, real or fake, is really hard. The first 3 Pirates of the Caribbean films are fantastic, and the last 2 entries are absolutely atrocious. Aquaman is excellent,...

The latest installment in Netflix's ongoing Witcher universe has arrived, bringing fans back to the Continent for one of Geralt of Rivia's early adventures. The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep puts Geralt and his bard companion Jaskier right in the middle of a simmering conflict between humans and merpeople. The short story that it's based on, "A Little Sacrifice," is essentially author Andrzej Sapkowski's take on The Little Mermaid, but don't let that fool you into thinking this'll be a light affair. There's plenty of star-crossed love, scheming and betrayals, and of course, monsters.

The film also features an excellent voice cast, which includes The Witcher video game voice actor Doug Cockle stepping back into the iconic role of Geralt, along with stars from the Netflix mothership show like Joey Batey as Jaskier and Anya Chalotra as Yennefer. Read our full breakdown of the voice cast here.

While...

Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter is the much-needed sequel to the surprise smash hit of 2021. A 2D sidescroller in the modern day is a hard sell at the best of times, but when you throw Soulslike elements and a rat protagonist into the mix, it could either be really bad, or incredibly unique. The first managed to land on the better side of that dilemma, but what about the sequel? We checked it out to find out for you!

Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter is a Worthy Sequel

If you’re unaware, Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter follows Arlo the Rat, the King’s son who’s desperate to get himself into battle and prove himself to his father. He gets his wish all too quickly, as he finds himself training with his father, before returning back to his kingdom to find it under siege from the Dark Wings,...

The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep is out now on Netflix, bringing fans of the monster-hunting fantasy saga back to the Continent. This new animated film from Studio Mir is set during Geralt of Rivia's early days as a witcher, when he was traveling the land with the bard Jaskier and building up his renown. Their path leads them to the seaside village of Bremervoord, where our stalwart witcher finds himself in the middle of a conflict between humans a nearby society of merpeople.

Sirens of the Deep adapts the short story "A Little Sacrifice" by Andrzej Sapkowski, which can be read in his book Sword of Destiny. It's essentially Sapkowski's take on the folklore of The Little Mermaid. The animated film puts its own twist on things, including the addition of a climactic battle with a kraken, but it on the whole it hews fairly close to the events and spirit of Sapkowski's work.

Between the various bestselling books by author Andrzej Sapkowski, the popular series of games, and the ever-popular Netflix series and spin-offs, The Witcher franchise remains remarkably popular. The flagship Netflix series, largely considered a successful adaptation of the property, has thus far been supplemented by prequels of mixed quality. The animated The Witcher:Nightmare of the Wolf received high praise, while the live-action The Witcher: Blood Originhad somewhat of a more critical welcome. The live-action Netflix series hasn't been without its own challenges, originally starring Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia before he departed and was replaced by Liam Hemsworth. However, the franchise's latest story, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, an animated feature set within the timeline and continuity of the live-action series, successfully captures all the monster-hunting action, mythology, and interesting character dynamics fans have come to expect. Doug Cockle also delivers an excellent performance in his return as Geralt,...

My biggest concern going into The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep is that I simply wouldn’t be able to comprehend it given that I dropped off of the series after Season 2. Based on what I’ve heard about Season 3 and Blood Origin, I probably made the right call; but I did enjoy those first two seasons and the first anime movie, 2021’s Nightmare of the Wolf, and was worried I wouldn’t be able to enjoy this without having to untangle more of the franchise’s overly convoluted lore.

Thankfully, my fears were quickly dissuaded on that front. Not only is Sirens of the Deep an interquel, taking place sometime in the middle of Season 1 but before the start of Season 2, it also opts for more a standalone narrative than even Nightmare of the Wolf did, being directly adapted from the short story “A Little Sacrifice” by Witcher book series author Andrzej Sapkowski.

I have a long and complicated history with Netflix's adaptation of The Witcher. As someone who's sunk hundreds of hours into the video games and read all the books, I've often vacillated between disappointment and frustration when watching the television series, which tends to toss out wide swathes of its source material or even directly contradict its spirit. But that doesn't mean I'm thoughtless with my criticism; on the contrary, I love to do a good deep dive on this series and dissect what's working and what isn't. That's why, unlike many Henry Cavill-obsessed fans who were too bitter over the actor's departure to give The Witcher season 3 a proper shake, I generally thought it was a huge step in the right direction after the enormous missteps of season 2. But that doesn't mean I've forgotten all the times The Witcher burned me in the past.

All this is important to state up front,...

Quick LinksDoug Cockle’s Return as Geralt Bodes Well for 'The Witcher' FranchiseNetflix Should Make More Animated 'Witcher' Adaptations

With fans of The Witcher still upset over Henry Cavill’s departure from the Netflix show, its Season 4 return with Liam Hemsworth at the helm of the series doesn’t exactly fill viewers with any sort of excitement. That being said, with Netflix’s upcoming Witcher film heading to the platform in February, it would seem they’re doing one thing right with the franchise as it moves forward without Cavill. An upcoming adult animated film, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, is the latest addition to Netflix’s Witcher universe and actually gives fans something to look forward to. The film takes place between Episodes 5 and 6 of the show’s first season and is based on the short story A Little Sacrifice from Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski.

In a recent panel at MegaCon Orlando, the original voice actor of Katara from Avatar: The Last Airbender revealed a key moment from the series that dealt with some of its darkest and most mature themes.

Per Cbr’s coverage of MegaCon Orlando, Mae Whitman and several other Avatar: The Last Airbender voice actors discussed their roles within the series. Whitman, the original voice ofAvatar: The Last Airbender’s Katara, was asked to recall a key moment of the series. In response, Whitman recalled the series’ introduction to bloodbending. "I remember the Bloodbending episode was so big for me because it’s tackling the complexity of trying to control people and outcomes," responded Whitman. "I remember being young and being affected by that and the darkness of it."

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Fans of The Witcher franchise will have something to look forward to when The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep premieres this February on Netflix. The upcoming anime movie will feature a scene initially intended for Season 1 of the live-action series but never aired.

According to GamesRadar, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep will include a scene cut from the live-action TV series on Netflix. Writers Mike Ostrowski and Rae Benjamin revealed this interesting detail in Issue 388 of SFX magazine, which features Daredevil: Born Again on the cover. The Easter egg relates to the complicated relationship between Geralt of Rivia and Yennefer of Vengerberg.

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The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep Teases Cut Scene From Season 1 Between Geralt & Yennefer Image via...

Picture: IFC Midnight

The second month of the year is here, and the movie lineup for the month is actually looking strong, albeit less so on the Netflix Original side, with most of the big hitters saved for March onwards. Below, we’ll give our picks of the best new movies coming up throughout the month.

As always, we will split our picks up into two buckets. First, we’ll cover the Netflix Originals we’re most excited about throughout the month. For the most part, these will be arriving on Netflix globally. We’ll only cover two this month, as their lineup is a little underwhelming. We’ll then look into the licensed movies headed specifically to US Netflix, with other regions’ lineups varying.

You can find the complete list of everything coming up on Netflix throughout February 2025 here.

Most Anticipated Netflix Original Movies in February 2025 The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep...

2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for The Witcher, Netflix's monster-hunting fantasy saga based on the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski. Next month, the streamer is dropping The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, a new spinoff movie set during Geralt's early days as a monster hunter. But sometime later this year we'll be treated to the main event when The Witcher season 4 premires on Netflix, and we get to see Liam Hemsworth onscreen as Geralt of Rivia for the first time following the departure of Henry Cavill.

We still don't have a solid release date for The Witcher season 4, but we do have another exciting piece of information that might help make the picture clearer. According to reliable Witcher scoop site Redanian Intelligence, pre-production has begun for The Witcher season 5. Yes, soon the cameras will get rolling on the final season of the hit Netflix television show!

A new month has dawned, which means it's time to take stock of all the new TV shows and movies coming down the pike. We've been fretting about the future of fantasy and science fiction TV a bit of late, but not to worry: there are still some exciting genre series to check out in February.

While the year overall is pretty stacked with fantasy and sci-fi stuff, February is a bit of a light month. We'll see the return of a gritty animated superhero drama, a new installment in Netflix's ongoing fantasy franchise The Witcher and...the Bible, but Game of Thrones-ified? Yeah, it's gonna be a strange one.

Here are all the genre shows and movies we've got on the docket in February 2025:

Adam Scott and Britt Lower in Severance season 2. | Image: Apple TV+. 1. Severance season 2 — Airing now (Apple TV+)

Yes, Severance technically premiered in January,...

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This February, we are getting a ton of content from the much-anticipated release of Invincible Season 3 on streaming to the release of Captain America: Brave New World in theaters. This upcoming month will see the release of many great movies, so we thought of compiling a list of all the best movies that are coming straight to streaming.

Kinda Pregnant (Netflix) Release Date: February 5 Credit – Netflix

Kinds Pregnant is an upcoming comedy film directed by Tyler Spindel from a screenplay co-written by Julie Paiva and Amy Schumer. The upcoming Netflix film follows Lainy, who gets jealous after hearing that her friend is pregnant. She soon begins wearing a fake belly, but she is brought up with a few complications when she meets the man of her dreams, the fake belly causes a few complications. Kinda Pregnant stars Amy Schumer,...