Over the weekend, the news suddenly fell that Henry Cavill is going to leave the Netflix series The Witcher, leading actor Liam Hemsworth to take over the role of monster-hunting Geralt. Well, ever since the shocking news broke, fans of The Witcher racked their brains trying to figure out why Cavill would be leaving a project he’s so vocally passionate about. And some may have found the reason…
The Witcher fans feel that the series strays too far from the source material that caused it Henry Cavill walk away. We now present Exhibit A, in which the actor declares (as he has done many times over the years) how much he loves him The Witcher books, games and everything in between. “The books are so nuanced and the characters are so complex that in the end it is. As for the show, I just want to make sure the character and books are done justice in live action because I always believe that if it ain’t broke then don’t try to fix it,” Cavill said in 2021. “And I don’t think they’re broken, and I absolutely love those books. For me, that’s my focus.”
Fans have also referenced the words of former The Witcher writer Beau DeMayo, who even claimed that others working on the Netflix show “actively” disliked the source material. “I’ve been featured – namely Witcher – where some writers didn’t like or dislike the books and games (even actively mocked the source material),” he said.
Of course, other fans have come to their own conclusions. Those range from “contact renegotiation” to “he’s just obsessed with another video game now.”
Could Superman have pulled Henry Cavill out of The Witcher?
Except for The Witcher drama, Henry Cavill has been in the news recently thanks to his triumphant return as Superman. A return that other The Witcher fans think this could be the reason for the recast.
Cavill took to social media to announce his departure from The Witcher saying, “My journey as Geralt of Rivia is filled with monsters as well as adventures, and alas, I’ll be laying down my locket and my swords for season 4.”
The actor then revealed that Independence Day: Resurgence star Liam Hemsworth will take his place. “In my place, the wonderful Mr. Liam Hemsworth will take on the mantle of the White Wolf. As with the greatest of literary characters, I pass the torch with reverence for the time I’ve spent embodying Geralt and the enthusiasm to see Liam’s take on this most fascinating and nuanced man. Liam, good lord, this character has such an amazing depth to him, enjoy diving in and seeing what you can find.”
Henry Cavill debuted in 2019 and received widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Geralt of Rivia. Fans have one more season with the Man of Steel star as the lead, while Season 3 kicks off as Cintra’s Geralt Ciri goes into hiding, determined to protect his newly reunited family from those who threaten to destroy it. Entrusted with Ciri’s magical training, Yennefer leads them to the protected fortress of Aretuza, where she hopes to learn more about the girl’s untapped powers.
The Witcher Season 3 is expected to debut on Netflix in the summer of 2023.