After the high-profile exit of Henry Cavill from Netflix’s epic fantasy adventure series The Witcher, actor Liam Hemsworth had to take the reins as Geralt of Rivia. And when it came to bringing him into the cast, his co-star Anya Chalotra assured that no hazing rituals were conducted. Speaking to The Guardian, she said:
We didn’t want to be too intense. We just wanted to make space for Liam. He understands people. He understands this world. He was able to come in so naturally. It was really easy.
Thus, with the star integrating into the production of seasons 4 and 5, it was easy for him to assume the role that Cavill left behind. Yet, despite the high praises of Hemsworth, the actress was still extremely sad when she learned the Man of Steel star was leaving The Witcher after Season 3.
Henry Cavill’s Exit From The Witcher Hit Anya Chalotra Hard
Despite Liam Hemsworth’s efforts to bring a new life to Geralt, it wasn’t as easy for Anya Chalotra to cope with Henry Cavill’s exit. In a past interview with EW, the actress revealed how she was almost in tears when she heard the news of Cavill leaving the role of Geralt.
She claimed that since they had spent so much time as co-stars, added to the fact that this was her biggest, most high-profile role yet, she felt like something was missing. She said:
I cried. I remember it so vividly. It really impacted me. We were so bonded to these people, and to lose such an important member of the team… I’ve put everything into this character. I started [Witcher] having not much work under my belt, and this show means the world to me. So it hurt.
While it may have been sad to see a co-star take their unexpected leave, the pain was also somewhat alleviated thanks to Hemsworth’s professionalism and a similar passion for the source material of The Witcher as Cavill’s (via Speaking on Live with Kelly & Mark).
Liam Hemsworth’s Performance in The Witcher Needed More Risks to Be Taken
Since the creators knew that replacing Cavill’s version of the White Wolf with Hemsworth might bring about a discrepancy with Hemsworth’s portrayal, they made him more broken and vulnerable. This risk was well worth it, as it made transitioning from one actor to the other somewhat easier.
But at the same time, the rest of his performance, as stated online, was quite flat and dull, despite him being the titular protagonist of the series. This was the perfect opportunity to explore the character in more emotional and psychological states, where previous iterations, like the books and video games, didn’t penetrate deep enough.
And since this was a new Geralt, it would instantly make an impact, considering he only has another season to be in the story. At the same time, the risk of offending the fandom wasn’t that high either, as those who had already made up their mind about Season 4 wouldn’t care. As Season 4 has already suffered a 50% viewership drop compared to the previous seasons.
Here’s more information on The Witcher Season 4.
Did you like Hemsworth’s performance in the latest season? Tell us in the comments below.
The Witcher is available to stream on Netflix.
