Actor Henry Cavill dropped major news about his future with Netflix's The Witcher, announcing that he will not be returning to the show after Season 3. His exit from the series has fans in an uproar and many have stormed social media with calls for the streaming giant to simply cancel the series.
While many of these fans attempt to show respect to Liam Hemsworth, Cavill's replacement as Geralt of Rivia, most have expressed deep frustration with the quality of the show, the direction in which it has gone and how that will all be impacted by Cavill's departure, as the actor has been noted as a passionate fan of the lore who attempted to contribute to the show regularly.
The strong response to the news appears to be partly fueled by recent comments made by former Witcher writer Beau DeMayo, who stated, "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.)," leading some to attribute perceived flaws in the Netflix series to a lack of respect for Andrzej Sapkowski's novels. Many appear to believe a not insignificant number of the show's virtues could be attributed to Cavill himself, who has expressed his deep enthusiasm for both the novels and CD Projekt Red's video games.
Throughout both released seasons of the Netflix series, Cavill has reportedly been a dedicated member of the cast and an apparent benefit to the development of the show. Showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich herself previously confirmed several changes Cavill has pushed for, such as more dialogue for Geralt. The actor reportedly even turned a moment of meta-humor into a poignant scene in Season 2.
Cavill announced his exit from The Witcher on social media, writing, "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." He did not provide a reason, but there is heavy speculation that it is due to his involvement in the DCEU, as his return as Superman was recently confirmed following the release of Black Adam.
Before Liam Hemsworth takes over as Geralt of Rivia, Cavill will be appearing in Season 3 of The Witcher, set to be released sometime in the summer of 2023. Details are scarce, but it is believed the season will predominately adapt the events and characters of Sapkowski's novel, Time of Contempt-- the second novel in the core Witcher saga and the fourth book in the series overall.
Source: Twitter