Geralt of Rivia will look a little different when The Witcher returns for its fourth season on Netflix.
Henry Cavill will exit the fantasy series after the upcoming third season, with Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games) taking over in the title role. The streamer announced the renewal and casting news on Saturday afternoon.
Here is Cavill’s statement on leaving The Witcher (via Instagram):
“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. 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.”
And here is Hemsworth’s statement (via Variety):
“As a Witcher fan I’m over the moon about the opportunity to play Geralt of Rivia. Henry Cavill has been an incredible Geralt, and I’m honoured that he’s handing me the reins and allowing me to take up the White Wolf’s blades for the next chapter of his adventure. Henry, I’ve been a fan of yours for years and was inspired by what you brought to this beloved character. I may have some big boots to fill, but I’m truly excited to be stepping into The Witcher world.”
Cavill has starred as the monster hunter Geralt on The Witcher since the Netflix series debuted in December 2019. While no reason was given for his exit, a lot of people online believe he exited over creative differences regarding the show’s failure to faithfully adapt the novels. Honestly, I think that’s probably what happened. Seriously, Google it. Cavill is a huge fan of the source material while the writers have openly admitted to hating the source material. Why star on something you love that the writers have no interest in honoring?
The Witcher Season 3 will premiere in Summer 2023 on Netflix.
What do you think about Cavill leaving The Witcher? Do you think Hemsworth will do a good job as Geralt?
