In a development that once again proves Henry Cavill has a highly devoted and strangely whingy fanbase, news broke over the weekend that the once and future DCEU Superman would be stepping down from his role as Geralt of Rivia after The Witcher’s forthcoming third season. The announcement that he would be replaced by Australia’s own Liam Hemsworth in the popular Netflix series resulted in a collective sook from Cavill fanboys, many of whom would almost certainly have been amongst those who stomped their little feet in order to get the Zack Snyder’s version of Justice League released and baulked at the idea of Superman being reimagined with Michael B. Jordan donning the red cape.
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Liam Hemsworth in Poker Face – whether the grey hair is him slowly transitioning into full Geralt-mode is yet to be confirmed | Image: Stan
Now that the recently released Black Adam has confirmed Cavill’s return to the role of Kal-El/Clark Kent/Supes for future DCEU instalments – a sequel to 2013’s Man of Steel is in the early stages of development – it seems he has no time for sword slinging (unless of course his rumoured role in the upcoming Highlander remake comes to fruition). Fans were not happy to hear the news, with some saying they’d rather see The Witcher cancelled than continue without Cavill, while others made their feelings about Hemsworth painfully clear, although that’s not the kind of thing we’d reprint here.
This is despite the fact that Hemsworth’s casting received a ringing endorsement from Cavill as the latter announced his departure from The Witcher via a post on Instagram: “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. 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.”
Image: Netflix
Signing off, Cavill addressed Hemsworth directly, saying, “Liam, good sir, this character has such a wonderful depth to him, enjoy diving in and seeing what you can find.”
While he’ll soon be hanging up his silver wig for the last time, Cavill fans needn’t worry that their idol will be in any way absent from our screens. In addition to the aforementioned appearances in the Man of Steel sequel and Highlander reboot, rumours are swirling around Cavill being included on the shortlist to take over from Daniel Craig as James Bond and he’ll also be returning to Netflix for Enola Holmes 2 when it launches on November 4. Despite the controversy, Hemsworth seems entirely chuffed with the appointment. Taking to Instagram, the Aussie shared his admiration for Cavill’s portrayal and remarked he was a devoted Witcher fan.
“As a Witcher fan, I’m over the moon about the opportunity to play Geralt of Rivia,” Hemsworth wrote. “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. 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.”
As for The Witcher, here’s hoping Liam Hemsworth proves the haters wrong. There’s a full season of the show yet to go with Cavill still on board and with this much notice, we’re confident the showrunners will figure out an elegant way for Cavill to bow out and make room for Hemsworth’s interpretation of the White Wolf.
Saying that, Hemsworth won’t be appearing as Geralt for some time as we still need to wait for mid-2023 to see The Witcher Season 3, let alone Season 4. In the meantime, click the link below to discover why Henry Cavill isn’t done being Superman.
Farewell, Geralt Mk 1 | Image: Netflix
