For nearly three years, ‘The Witcher‘ fandom has lived under the shadow of Henry Cavill’s departure. The Superman star, who embodied Geralt of Rivia with gravelly gravitas and quiet intensity, left big shoes and swords to fill. Now, as the Netflix drama gears up for its last two seasons, Liam Hemsworth is finally breaking his silence for the very first time.
The ‘Hunger Games’ alum sat down for his first in-depth conversation about inheriting the White Wolf mantle, addressing Cavill’s exit, and revealing how he’s making Geralt his own.
Liam Hemsworth On Playing The White Wolf After Henry Cavill’s Exit
When Hemsworth first stepped onto the set in full armor, the weight of expectations heated him even more than the costumes. Talking about it now, he mentioned to Entertainment Weekly, “It takes two or three people to get the chest plate on and off.” But what really tested him was how he already knew how the fans would constantly compare him to Cavill.
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The casting news had caused a storm online, and Hemsworth knew it. “There was quite a bit of noise, and I had to put that aside,” he said. Things eventually got so much out of hand that he pulled back from social media. The reason was that the actor didn’t want any of that to affect the story they were all trying to tell.
Even though the majority of the fans think that Cavill’s exit was kind of controversial, his exit wasn’t as sudden as it looked. Showrunner Lauren Hissrich explained that he had been talking about moving on for a while. She eventually revealed, “The conversation had been happening for a long time.“
Maybe that’s why, soon after leaving, Cavill was seen taking up major roles in the ‘Warhammer 40K‘ series at Amazon and a ‘Highlander‘ reboot with John Wick director Chad Stahelski. Even in his farewell message, Cavill showed the fans how much the role meant to him and called his time on The Witcher “filled with both monsters and adventures” and praised Hemsworth as “the fantastic Mr. Liam Hemsworth” who would carry Geralt forward.
Obviously, saying goodbye wasn’t easy. Anya Chalotra, who plays Yennefer, admitted she cried when she heard Cavill was leaving.
Hemsworth Was ‘The Witcher’ Fan Before Joining The Show
When Hemsworth’s name came up, one of the major questions was, “Why Hemsworth?” According to Hissrich, his name had been in the talks for a while now, and as it turns out, Hemsworth was already a fan. “I played The Witcher 3 several times… It’s one of the best video games of all time.” And somehow, that passion played a role when he was offered the role.
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Even though he was surprised by the offer, he said, “I was as shocked as anyone,” and he quickly dived into the books, rewatched Cavill’s seasons, and started imagining how he could shape Geralt. Stressing on it, Hemsworth couldn’t help saying, “I’m a massive fan of Henry’s and what he did in the show, but I also wanted to explore the lighter, more human side of Geralt.“
That side of the character, Hemsworth revealed, came naturally to him. Growing up, his father worked in child protection, and when the thought of protecting others sank in, he could relate more. He commented, “We were brought up with this real sense of taking care of people around you. There are elements of that I felt connected to.“
While Hemsworth himself initially had some doubts, the creative team thought that his approach was exactly what the show needed. And, while he was stepping into big shoes, he also wanted to bring something new. The goal is to ensure Geralt can stand on his own two feet. So, he ultimately found balance; stuck to Geralt’s signature toughness while showing more of his humor and charm.
Henry has now passed the torch. And, now, it’s Hemsworth’s job to honor that and tell his own version of Geralt’s story.
