Hemsworth Could Get a Big Career Boost, Though He’ll Have to Win the Hearts of Cavill’s Loyal Fans
Netflix’s “The Witcher” pulled a switcheroo for an upcoming fourth season, with Liam Hemsworth replacing series star Henry Cavill. This was big news as Cavill has become the face of the show. In many ways he seemed like ideal casting as a self-identified fantasy nerd and fan of the Witcher novels and games.
,Magicianwas a breakout success for Netflix right out of the gate. It peaked at 120 times the average series demand two weeks after its premiere on December 20, 2019, according to data from Parrot Analytics, which takes into account consumer research, streaming, downloads and social media, among other engagements. Interestingly, demand for the second season lagged behind the first season, averaging 80 times more (which is still a phenomenal performance, to be fair).
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The second season also surpassed the first Hours watched in the first 28 days, as reported by Netflix. Despite the underperforming season 2, Netflix continued the franchise by renewing “The Witcher” through a fourth season and with an animated film (“The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf”) and a prequel series (“The Witcher”). expanded. The Witcher: Blood Origins”) is set for release in late December.
With Cavill returning as the monster-hungry Geralt of Rivia in the upcoming third season, it will be a while before we can measure the direct impact of Hemsworth’s casting. Season 3 is expected to drop at some point in mid-2023, and the casting announcement could really stoke interest as fans pile in to see Cavill’s final performance.
Taking on the role of Geralt could be a major boost for Hemsworth. Eventually, Cavill saw an 81% increase in demand for his talent from the show, from an average of 16 times in the six months before the show’s 2019 premiere to an average of 29 times in the six months after “The Witcher” launched. (Consider, too, that the British star had already been made a loyal follower by DC Comics’ plans to play Superman on the big screen.)
The effect was not short lived either. Cavill’s demand has permanently shifted to a higher level, showing how he’s managed to integrate fans of “The Witcher” franchise into his own fan base.
In the 6 months prior to the “Witcher” announcement, Hemsworth claimed 3.5 times higher than average nominal demand. While he’s starting 2019 from a lower baseline than Cavill, the former “Hunger Games” star stands to see his demand increase in the role.
However, Hemsworth faces additional challenges as a replacement for Cavill, who is beloved by “The Witcher” fans and could whip up backlash for the casting change. In the week following the announcement, the sentiment surrounding Liam Hemsworth shifted in a decidedly negative direction. It may just be a short-term reaction, but the Aussies may have some work to do to win back the hearts of the fans.
