Henry Cavill was considered to be the perfect live-action Geralt of Riva in The Witcher. Fans shouldn’t give up on the series without him just yet.
The Witcher had the chance to become a dominant franchise in the TV landscape. An adaptation of the various books and stories by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski, the series follows the adventures of Geralt of Rivia as he works to protect those he loves, while also fighting monsters along the way. After two successful seasons, it seemed like Geralt’s actor, Henry Cavill, had the opportunity to define the role forever. Instead of just being a popular video game franchise and book series, the live-action version seemed like it would define the franchise forever.
Instead, Henry Cavill announced that he would be leaving The Witcher for good. Instead of riding the show’s success to new heights, he chose to exit the show after Season 3, though he announced his departure before the start of the season. Netflix announced that Liam Hemsworth would take the lead in Season 4. The show suffered a significant decline in audience size, and it seems that it could lead to the slow death of the live-action franchise. Still, there is no reason to give up on Liam Hemsworth’s version of The Witcher before it even starts.
The Impact of Losing Henry Cavill
Over the past few years, Cavill has become a fairly prominent name within the industry. He starred in Man of Steel, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, and is set to lead The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare in April. That he chose to accept a role in a relatively small production was a massive surprise, and it set The Witcher apart as a special series. The success of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt also contributed to some of the excitement, as the show first premiered in 2019, while the game was released in 2015.
Despite the many achievements of the show, including reaching its fourth season on a platform that regularly cancels shows after Season 2, much of its success hinged on Cavill’s presence. The decision to announce Cavill’s departure from the series long before Season 3 aired certainly impacted the show. The Witcher Season 3’s viewership plummeted, leaving the second half of the season with a massive 33 percent drop from the first half. Even The Witcher: Blood Origin enjoyed better ratings, proving that audience interest in a Witcher without Cavill is practically nonexistent.
Even the draw of seeing his final moments in the show has not been enough to revive viewership. It’s a sign that any hope of The Witcher enjoying a long run should swiftly be evaporating. Still, that doesn’t mean that the show is doomed. Cavill may have already taken his leave, but the show still has the chance to keep going. The characters, cast, and setting are still more than enough to carry the show. Unfortunately, the show will need to work hard to bring back its lapsed audience and secure a lasting place within Netflix’s other series. As challenging as that will be to achieve, it is still possible.
The Witcher Isn’t Over Just Because of Henry Cavill’s Exit
Losing Henry Cavill has been a massive blow to Netflix’s take on The Witcher, but it doesn’t need to be a fatal one. After all, even if Hemsworth fails to live up to Cavill’s depiction, there are still other characters who have emerged as stars. Just as Game of Thrones’ cast would still be incredible had Kit Harington left the show before Season 4, The Witcher is also filled with an ensemble cast that has enjoyed prominent roles from the beginning.
After all, Cavill’s Geralt is not the only character. Ciri and Yennefer make up a majority of the trio and have left lasting marks on the show. Anya Chalotra’s depiction of Yennefer has offered her immense depth and importance that should not be disregarded because of Cavill’s departure. She has enriched the universe, and she deserves the opportunity to prove herself as a ratings draw of her own. Freya Allan has also more than proven herself as an actor. With Ciri set to lead a dark and dreary arc, Allan will have the chance to show off more of her skills as an actor. Setting the show aside just as Ciri’s story is becoming a fascinating element of the show would be a disappointment at best and a tragedy at worst.
There are also new characters waiting to be introduced, and the world itself is also a considerable draw. Every episode offers more insight into life as a Witcher. With an entire world to explore, new monsters to battle, and Jaskier’s bizarre story to unravel, there is still much to be seen in The Witcher’s universe. Every successive season will offer more of a chance to unravel the world that Sapkowski built. If Netflix’s show is abandoned because of ever-decreasing viewership numbers, it would be a tragedy. In all likelihood, The Witcher might never have another live-action English-language adaptation if this once highly successful version falls apart so quickly.
Liam Hemsworth Deserves a Chance
If the world, characters, and cast are not a strong enough draw, then Hemsworth’s skills as an actor deserve to be considered. Hemsworth has distinguished himself in multiple ways previously, having starred in the Hunger Games movies, Independence Day: Resurgence, and The Expendables 2. He is certainly talented enough to lead a show of his own, and The Witcher will finally offer him a chance to prove that by himself. Just as the DC Extended Universe’s producers took a chance by recruiting Cavill, The Witcher is giving Hemsworth the right to show why he deserves an opportunity this prominent. It will be fascinating to see how he rises to the occasion.
Hemsworth also won’t be left to handle the show himself. He can lean on the performances of his supporting cast, of course, but can also base his depiction of Geralt on Cavill’s. Henry Cavill left a massive role to fill. Many fans considered him to be the perfect live-action Geralt and even the original author, Andrzej Sapkowski, thinks of Cavill as the perfect Geralt. Should Hemsworth elevate Geralt as a character, he will need to both honor Cavill’s take on Geralt, while also adding his spin to it. It will be interesting to watch The Witcher Season 4 just to see where Hemsworth takes Geralt. After all, few shows ever have to recast a character of Geralt’s importance. This is such a rare opportunity that it would be a mistake not to watch at least the next season.
