Liam Hemsworth is breaking his silence about replacing Henry Cavill in The Witcher.
The Hunger Games star takes over the role of Geralt of Rivia in the fourth season of Netflix’s hit fantasy series, which is set to premiere on October 30. Hemsworth’s casting — and Cavill’s departure — was first announced in October 2022.
Hemsworth recalled the social media “noise” that followed the big news in an interview with Entertainment Weekly published on Thursday, September 25.
“There was quite a bit of noise, and I had to put that aside,” the Australian actor said. “It started to become a distraction.”
“I dealt with that sort of thing in the past a lot and, you know, at the end of the day, I love making movies and I love telling stories and acting. I just don’t want any of that to affect my way of telling the story that I’m trying to tell. I jumped off social media and the internet most of last year,” he added.
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Hemsworth, 35, rose to fame when he starred alongside Jennifer Lawrence in the Hunger Games franchise. His personal life has since been subject to social media scrutiny due to his high-profile marriage to Miley Cyrus. (The couple finalized their divorce in January 2020.)
As for Cavill, Hemsworth said, “I’m a massive fan of Henry’s, and I’m a fan of what he did in the show.”
The Witcher showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich told the outlet that Hemsworth was eyed for the role when it became apparent Cavill, 42, was ready to move on.
“His name has been out there for a very long time,” Hissrich said, though Hemsworth admitted the offer to play Geralt “came out of nowhere.” He added, “I was as surprised as anyone.”
According to Hissrich, Cavill’s departure was mutually agreed upon, and there were no “serious conversations about the show not continuing.”
“The show is bigger than one actor. It’s bigger than me. There’s a book series, there’s a video game. We are the third entry into this. So The Witcher lives whether or not we go,” the showrunner said.
“He had plans for other roles that he really wanted to commit himself to,” Hissrich said of Cavill. “And for us, you don’t want to hold someone and force them to be doing something that they don’t want to do. I think that’s why it felt like a really symbiotic decision.”
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“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 October 2022. “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.”
Hemsworth said at the time of his casting, “Henry Cavill has been an incredible Geralt, and I’m honored 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.”
