TheWitcher.tv has obtained the casting call description for Ciri, which is looking to add diversity to the cast. The casting team is searching for a B.A.M.E actor in her late teens who can play a preteen. The acronym stands for: Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic. Looking for an actor that can "age" based on storyline, might entail that episode timelines span between a few years at least. Below is the official description, but without source and contact information (out of respect to those involved).
THE WITCHER for Netflix
Overall shoot dates: 18th October 2018 - end May 2019
Location: Budapest
CIRI
LEAD ROLE. OPTIONS REQUIRED
Cirilla. The Lion Cub of Cintra
Looking for a 16 or 15 year old BAME girl who can play down to 13/14. Must not be older than 18 years old.
Resilient, Relentless, Brazen, Growing.
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, 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 Witcher an 8 x one hour, fantasy drama for Netflix created by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich (The West Wing, The Defenders, Daredevil) and based on the book series of the same name by Andrzej Sapkowski.
GERALT, a genetically enhanced monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.
GERALT's story entwines with CIRI, an orphaned young girl who wants to find a family & YENNEFER, a powerful sorceress whose beauty and talent come at cost.
Bound together by destiny, often against their will, the three must navigate THE CONTINENT together. And Geralt and Yennefer realize that they must protect this girl - who might just destroy the world. Need we say more?
The concern over ethnic diversity is not a new topic, and has been brought up early by fans, both for and against such casting choices. Showrunner Lauren Hissrich has addressed representation in past twitter threads. Here are a few of them:
The word “representation” is so hot-button that the second I use it, a swath of people accuse me of being leftist, or “anti-racist” (someone actually said that) or a feminist. But true representation also includes men, and conservatives, and white people. It includes different sexualities (which Sapkowski himself wove in) and cultures and ethnicities. It includes all people and POVs. BECAUSE — without them, there’s no drama. If I just preach my “agenda,” there’s no debate. No story.
But cultural representation and skin color are two different things. And I don't see why we can't show accurate, organic diversity in both, within a fantasy world.
What are your thoughts on casting diversity? Does it in any way diminish the world Andrzej Sapkowski has painstakingly created? Let us know in the comments below or in our forums.
