'Henry is an extraordinary Geralt': Netflix exec weighs in on Henry Cavill's exit from 'The Witcher'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In October, 'The Witcher' was renewed for a fourth season, ahead of the release of the Netflix series' third season. Netflix executive Peter Friedlander has addressed Henry Cavill's exit from 'The Witcher.' Cavill stars in the Netflix fantasy series as Geralt of Rivia, a magically gifted monster hunter and titular sorcerer whose fate is intertwined with that of Princess Cirilla.
'The Witcher,' Cavill's portrayal had been beloved by critics and audiences alike, so it was a complete shock when Cavill left the series after the end of Season 3 and Liam Hemsworth took over the lead role in Season 4. The exact reason for Cavill's departure is not entirely clear, though many believe it's related to his return as Superman in the DCEU, though unfortunately that has not exactly been confirmed either, as Cavill and James Gunn confirmed that actor wont be returning as Superman either. Regardless, the first season, consisting of eight episodes, was released on Netflix on December 20, 2019. It is based on 'The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny,' collections of short stories that precede the actual 'The Witcher' saga by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski.
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Now, over a month after the actor made the announcement, Netflix executive Peter Friedlander is addressing Cavill's exit from 'The Witcher.' In an extensive interview with Variety, the streaming service's head of scripted series praised Cavill's portrayal of Geralt and explained why the fantasy show will be just fine with Hemsworth taking over the role.
"Henry is an extraordinary Geralt and I think Liam will continue and also be an extraordinary Geralt. There has been a legacy of amazing, iconic characters where the actors have changed and we’re hugely optimistic about this. We will continue to honor the IP, the fans, the storytelling, all the way through."
The debut season of 'The Witcher' landed 541 million hours of viewing time from audiences, and Season 2 earned more views than Netflix's crown jewel, 'Stranger Things.' Furthermore, a spin-off of the series, entitled 'The Witcher: Blood Origin' starring Michelle Yeoh is currently streaming on Netflix.
Fans will still be able to see Cavill one more time in 'The Witcher' Season 3 before he passes the torch to Hemsworth. 'The Witcher' Season 3 is set to premiere in the summer of 2023.