Over the weekend, the news suddenly dropped that Henry Cavill will depart the Netflix series The Witcher, leaving actor Liam Hemsworth to take over as the monster hunting Geralt. Well, since the shocking news broke, fans of The Witcher have been racking their brains in an attempt to work out why Cavill would leave a project that he is so vocally passionate about. And some may have worked out the reason…
The Witcher fans believe that is the series straying too far from the source material that has caused Henry Cavill to walk away. We now present Exhibit A, in which the actor states (as he has done many times over the years) how much he loves The Witcher books, games, and everything in between. “The books are so nuanced, and there is so much complexity to the characters in there that it is ultimately that. As far as the show goes, I just want to make sure that the character and the books are done justice in live action, because I’m always of the mind that if it’s not broken, don’t try and fix it,” Cavill said back in 2021. “And I don’t think they’re broken, and I absolutely love those books. For me, that’s my focus.”
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Fans have also referred to the words of former The Witcher writer Beau DeMayo, who went so far as to claim that others working on the Netflix show “actively” disliked the source material. “I’ve been on show - namely Witcher - where some of the writers were not or actively disliked the books and games (even actively mocking the source material)," he said.
Of course, other fans have come to their own conclusions. Which range from “contact renegotiations” to “he’s simply obsessed with another video game now.”
Could Superman Have Pulled Henry Cavill Away from The Witcher?
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Aside from The Witcher drama, Henry Cavill has featured in recent headlines thanks to his triumphant return as Superman. A return that other The Witcher fans think could be the reason for the recasting.
Cavill took to social media to announce his departure from The Witcher saying, “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 4.”
The actor then revealed that Independence Day: Resurgence star Liam Hemsworth will take his place. “In my stead, the fantastic Mr. Liam Hemsworth will be taking up the mantle of the White Wolf. 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.”
Debuting in 2019, Henry Cavill has received much acclaim for his portrayal of Geralt of Rivia. Fans do still have one more season with the Man of Steel star as the lead, with season 3 picking up as Geralt takes Ciri of Cintra into hiding, determined to protect his newly-reunited family against 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 discover more about the girl’s untapped powers.
The Witcher Season 3 is expected to debut on Netflix in summer 2023.
