Comic book creator Andrzej Sapkowski said the streaming service ignored his suggestions for the show, which has faced criticism for its departure from the original.

‘The Witcher’ Susan Allnutt/Netflix

The creator of Netflix’s The Witcher series has spoken out about his relationship with the streaming service, or lack thereof.

Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski says Netflix “never listened” to his ideas for a hit adaptation of his novels and games.

Sapkowski was asked at Vienna Comic-Con last week if he gave Netflix any feedback, and he replied with a laugh, “Maybe, I gave them some ideas, but they never listened to me. But that’s normal.” He then mimicked a Netflix executive and said dismissively, “Who is this? It’s a writer, not a person.”

Netflix did not respond to a request for comment. But the Witcher team has had a difficult time over the past few years in terms of its relationship with the show’s passionate fanbase, who have objected to many of the show’s departures from Sapkowski’s source material.

The biggest headline was the departure of star Henry Cavill after season three, which ended in July. While the reasons behind his departure remain unclear, Cavill was a big fan of Sapkowski’s books and has repeatedly stressed the importance of staying true to the source material. Months before announcing his departure, Cavill told The Hollywood Reporter that he was committed to seven seasons “as long as we can continue to tell great stories that honor Sapkowski’s work.” Cavill is being replaced in season four by Liam Hemsworth.

After Cavill left, one of the show’s writers for the first two seasons, Beau DeMayo, wrote on Instagram in 2002, “I’ve been on a show — namely Witcher — where some of the writers didn’t or didn’t like the books and games (and even made fun of the source material). It was a recipe for disaster and low morale. Fandom is an ego test and makes all the long nights worth it. You have to respect the work before you’re allowed to add to its legacy.”

Witcher showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich was asked about DeMayo’s comments and responded on Instagram, “I have never made fun of the books. The books are my entire livelihood. I have a great relationship with Mr. Sapkowski, and the writers’ room is a sacred, safe, and — more than anything — supportive space. Don’t believe everything you read.”

Despite all of this, The Witcher remains a hit, with its third season clocking in 99.4 million hours watched, according to Nielsen, and spending eight weeks in Netflix’s Top 10. However, the show’s viewership dropped 36 percent compared to season two.