Liam Hemsworth's casting as Geralt of Rivia in Netflix's The Witcher came as somewhat of a shock for fans of the show, with many left wondering why and how he was chosen to replace star Henry Cavill. A new report reveals Hemsworth was actually considered for the role very early on.
According to Redanian Intelligence, Hemsworth was one of many actors who originally auditioned for Geralt back in 2018, when the show was still searching for its star. While it's uncertain where he ranked among those considered, he is noted as being a favorite. When it was time to choose an actor to replace Cavill, there was no auditioning process. It is believed the producers returned to the original auditions and selected an actor from there, all while Season 3 was still filming.
Why Did Henry Cavill Leave?
It is currently uncertain when exactly Cavill made his decision to leave The Witcher, as he had previously expressed great enthusiasm for both the role and the source material on which the show is based. Recent reports suggest Cavill had considered leaving the project during Season 2's post-production stage. Moreover, it is believed his enthusiasm and passion for Andrzej Sapkowski's novels played into the decision, as Cavill often disagreed with the Netflix show's producers.
Immediately following the recasting announcement, there was widespread speculation that creative differences were the main reason. The speculation was partly driven by former Witcher writer Beau DeMayo's recent comments concerning his experience in the writers room. DeMayo stated, "Some of the writers were not or actively disliked the books and games, even actively mocking the source material."
Netflix's The Witcher Backlash
The response to Henry Cavill's exit has been overwhelmingly negative, with many fans going so far as to call for Netflix to cancel the series entirely. There have also been several petitions launched, calling for the streaming giant to replace the writers and keep Cavill on. Neither The Witcher showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich nor Netflix has yet issued a response to the backlash.
Cavill will appear in Season 3 of The Witcher, which is currently in post-production. Hemsworth is set to take over the role of Geralt for Season 4 onwards. Seasons 4 and 5 are currently in development and will reportedly film back to back. Neither season currently has a release date.
The Witcher is available for streaming on Netflix. Season 3 is scheduled to premiere in the summer of 2023.
Source: Redanian Intelligence