Shockwaves rippled across the internet last week, following the renewal of The Witcher for its fourth season, as Netflix confirmed the unexpected news that Henry Cavill would be stepping away from the series. Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games) was later announced as his replacement.
Cavill first took up the mantle of the White Wolf in 2019, winning audiences over with his dedicated and nuanced performance as Geralt of Rivia. His journey as Geralt will conclude with the release of the third series of the show in the summer of 2023, before he is replaced by Hemsworth.
Opening up about his decision, Cavill said: “My journey as Geralt of Rivia has been filled with both monsters and adventures, and alas, I will be laying down my medallion and my swords for season four. As with the greatest of literary characters, I pass the torch with reverence for the time spent embodying Geralt and enthusiasm to see Liam’s take on this most fascinating and nuanced of men. Liam, good sir, this character has such a wonderful depth to him, enjoy diving in and seeing what you can find.”
Fans, for the most part, have reacted with surprise and disappointment at the news, not least through a change.org petition which is demanding Cavill’s reinstatement as the Butcher of Blaviken for season four. However, the tension between Cavill and the show’s writers may finally have come to a head over creative differences about the direction of the series.
As a dedicated fan of Andrzej Sapkowski’s book series, Cavill was committed to a faithful adaptation of the source material, but felt that the series too often deviated from Sapkowski’s story. Speaking ahead of season two, he said: “The toughest part for me was finding that balance between the showrunners’ vision and my love for the books, and trying to bring that Geralt to the showrunners’ vision. It’s about treading a fine line there.”
As recently as last year, the British actor had reaffirmed his commitment to fulfilling a seven-season arc. Recent comments from Beau DeMayo, a former writer on The Witcher, may shine some light on Cavill’s decision to walk away from the series though, claiming that some of the show’s writers actively dislike Sapkowski’s books, which may well be the root cause of this announcement.
In any case, Cavill will remain busy going forward as a return to the DCU as Superman has been confirmed. Meanwhile, Liam Hemsworth will carry The Witcher forward and is eager to delve into Geralt’s story: “I may have some big boots to fill, but I’m truly excited to be stepping into The Witcher world.” Perhaps Hemsworth will take fans by surprise with his performance as Geralt, just as Cavill did.
Words by Jake Gill
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