The last week of October was an emotional rollercoaster for fans of Henry Cavill. Firstly, the actor made a surprise cameo in Black Adam, hinting a return to his role as Superman in the DC cinematic universe. He later confirmed his return via a video on Instagram. However, just when the Cavillians were rejoicing, we learned that he would no longer be playing the role of Geralt on Netflix's The Witcher TV show, and would be replaced by Liam Hemsworth in season four.
This was naturally upsetting for fans of The Witcher, as Cavill's portrayal of Geralt was brilliant. Unfortunately, it feels like Hemsworth got the short end of the stick, as fans immediately started doubting his capabilities. However, showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich feels that he is perfectly capable of taking over the role from Cavill and making it his own.
"I'm so excited for viewers," she said in a conversation with GamesRadar+, when asked about the recasting. "I think that it's just a new chapter for us. And I think new chapters bring new energy and that people will find things to love. So yeah, personally, I'm really excited."
Joey Batey, who plays Jaskier on the show, was also full of praise for Hemsworth. “The strength in him and the bravery to come and join a show like this, like halfway through is unbelievable and I hope that everyone knows the commitment that he’s already showing,” he said.
It's still unclear why exactly Cavill decided to leave the show, even though it got a pretty good reception, and fans love his version of Geralt. There are two prevailing theories – the first one is that Cavill was already on the verge of leaving by the end of season two, due to creative differences with the producers about Geralt's role, and it finally reached a tipping point. The second theory is that Cavill left in order to make time for his return as Superman under a new DCEU, helmed by James Gunn.
However, it's likely that it is a combination for both these theories that eventually led to the actor's departure.