Hemsworth Replacing Cavill Is Saving The Witcher, Not Ruining It
Recasting Geralt in Season 4 is the lesser of evils.
Netflix's The Witcher has received no small amount of backlash over its three seasons, but despite all its flaws and deviations from Andrzej Sapkowski's original books, the series has managed to establish itself as a fairly solid fantasy show.
None of this would have been possible without Henry Cavill, the most ardent fan of The Wicher book and video game series, who played Geralt of Rivia in the first three installments of the adaptation.
Cavill will be replaced in his role by Liam Hemsworth starting from Season 4 of the show, and while most fans are quite disturbed by this recasting, there are many who say Hemsworth will actually save the series' future seasons.
In October 2022, Netflix announced the departure of Henry Cavill, sending shockwaves through the series' fandom. For many, the lead actor was (and still is) the heart of the TV adaptation, and his perfect portrayal of Geralt was praised by Andrzej Sapkowski himself.
The reasons for Cavill's departure hasn't been undisclosed, though many believe it has to do with a conflict that allegedly arose between him and the series' writing team. Reportedly, the creators are not as reverent about the source material as Cavill is, which might have led him to question his commitment to the project and decide to step down from it.
Liam Hemsworth, famous for his role in the Hunger Games film series, is going to pick up the role after Cavill leaves the show. Of course, the recasting decision was met with criticism from many fans — but in fact, it looks like Hemsworth is effectively saving the project instead of ruining it.
If the creators had decided to stop producing The Witcher after Cavill's departure, they would have had two options besides recasting — either inexplicably continue the show without the protagonist, or cancel it altogether.
The first solution seems completely unviable, as it would have completely distorted the original story, in which much of the action is perceived from Geralt's perspective. Likewise, canceling the popular series after just three seasons would feel like a huge lost opportunity for everyone — the Netflix producers, creators, and fans — so it was only natural to get the role recast and keep the show going.
We're yet to see how well Liam Hemsworth will handle the role in The Witcher Season 4, which is expected for release in late 2024 or early 2025.