- Henry Cavill announced last year that he will leave “The Witcher” after its third season.
- His castmates told Insider that they found out that he was leaving “months” after they wrapped filming.
- Volume two of “The Witcher” season three premieres on July 27.
Henry Cavill is leaving “The Witcher” after season three ends later this month.
The actor announced last October on Instagram that he is stepping down from the role of Geralt of Rivia and passing the torch on to Liam Hemsworth.
“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,” he wrote at the time.
“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.”
Cavill added: “Liam, good sir, this character has such a wonderful depth to him, enjoy diving in and seeing what you can find.”
Neither Cavill nor the show’s creators have given a reason for his departure.Â
Here is what you need to know about when Henry Cavill will leave “The Witcher” and the future of the hit show.
Henry Cavill’s final episode premieres later this month
Henry Cavill and Anya Chalotra as Geralt and Yennefer in “The Witcher” season three episode five.
Susan Allnutt / Netflix
Since season three is split into two parts, volume one and volume two, Cavill’s last episode will be the final episode of volume two, which premieres on Netflix on June 27.
Season three adapts the second novel in “The Witcher” book saga by Andrzej Sapkowski, titled “Time of Contempt.”
This season, Geralt (Cavill), Jaskier (Joey Batey), and Yennefer (Anya Chalotri) are working together to protect Ciri (Freya Allan) from numerous enemies who all want to use her power. Ciri has both royal powers, as the lost daughter of the kingdom of Cintra, as well as unmatchable magical power due to her being born with a specific blood type called Elder Blood.
Allan, Cavill’s costar, told Insider that the cast only found out the actor was leaving months after they had wrapped filming season three.
“We found out quite a few months after,” Allan said, explaining that they found out through the show creator Lauren Schmidt Hissrich. “We just wrapped a season like any other season and I think we were all exhausted. We’ve all put in so much hard work and really kept as a team throughout the whole process, so it was nice lasting memories.”
Liam Hemsworth will play Geralt in season 4
Henry Cavill in “The Witcher” season three and new actor Liam Hemsworth.
Netflix / Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images
In May, “The Witcher” casting director Sophie Holland told Deadline that the show has already been renewed for a fifth season which means that Hemsworth, who is taking on the role of Geralt in season four, will likely be around for at least two seasons.
Batey told GamesRadar that the Australian actor has already started training and reading the book series the show is based on to prepare for the role.
“I’ve been in contact with him,” he said. “We’ve been emailing, we’ve been exchanging our favorite quotes from the books and things like that. I don’t think any of us are in the position to advise on playing Geralt but he’s throwing himself into it. His training regime is insane and he’s been devouring the books.”
MyAnna Buring, who plays the sorceress Tissaia, also weighed in on the casting change in an interview with Insider.
“We wouldn’t have Henry’s Superman if the baton of Superman wasn’t passed over, and now the baton of the Witcher is going to be passed over, and I think that’s a wonderful thing,” said Buring, likening the recast to that of other popular characters.
“I think it’s magic. It is the wonderful beauty of characters in a fantasy world.”
Buring added: “Henry set this up for us. It’s gorgeous. What he’s done is brilliant. It’s thrilled fans for three seasons now. And now the baton is going to be handed to Liam and it’s going to be really exciting and really fun.”
“The Witcher” season three, volume two, premieres on July 27 on Netflix.
