Netflix has picked up “The Witcher” for a fourth season, but one recognizable character will be absent. After the third season’s premiere, Henry Cavill will leave the project, and Liam Hemsworth will take over as the main character of Geralt of Rivia.
On Saturday afternoon, the streamer revealed the news of the renewal and casting, and both Hemsworth and Cavill issued statements. When interpreting the tones of both utterances, the choice appears to be a respectful handoff of the reins.
“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,” Cavill said in a statement on Instagram. “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.”
“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,” Hemsworth’s statement reads. “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.”
Since the start of “The Witcher” on Netflix in December 2019, Cavill has played the monster hunter Geralt. The actor’s final season with the show will be the third, which will air somewhere in the summer of 2023.
Over time, “The Witcher” has become something of a Netflix flagship series. The Witcher: Blood Origin,” a four-part prequel series starring Michelle Yeoh, will debut on Christmas Day. Cavill’s departure and the streamer’s decision to recast the main series’ lead role demonstrate their level of commitment to the franchise.
Hemsworth is most recognized for his role as Gale Hawthorne in the “Hunger Games” film series, where he co-starred with Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence. He most recently co-starred alongside Christoph Waltz in the “Most Dangerous Game” series on the Roku Channel, which was given a second season in August 2021. He also appears in the upcoming thriller “Poker Face” with Russell Crowe.
Cavill is still in high demand in the entertainment sector. The actor recently agreed to work again with director Guy Ritchie on “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare,” which will premiere on Netflix next week and in which he co-stars with Millie Bobby Brown in “Enola Holmes 2.” In addition, Cavill has stated that he will be playing Superman once more in a future Warner Bros. movie, albeit no writers or filmmakers have been assigned to the project as of yet.
The actor’s most recent lengthy appearance as the DC Comics superhero was in 2017’s “Justice League,” which marked the announcement of Cavill’s return as Superman. Cavill did, however, appear in a scene that previews a fight between Superman and Dwayne Johnson’s antihero in the recently released film “Black Adam.” Cavill received approval to take a break from filming Season 3 of “The Witcher” in order to feature in “Black Adam.” He now completely leaves the series.
