Did Behind-the-Scenes Drama Cause Henry Cavill to Leave The Witcher?
It seems that the writers did not hide their dislike for the work of Andrzej Sapkowski.
Summary
- One of the reasons why Henry Cavill left The Witcher could have been a new big role.
- However, it is quite possible that the actor was not satisfied with the writers' disrespect for the source material.
- Now Cavill is an executive producer of the franchise, which he loves no less.
Next year, the fourth season of The Witcher, a fantasy drama based on the book series of the same name by Andrzej Sapkowski, will premiere on Neftlix. It's a big turning point for both the series and the fandom, as Liam Hemsworth will be stepping into Henry Cavill's shoes for the first time since the actor, who rose to fame as Superman, left the project. Hemsworth has a huge task ahead of him, as he not only has to convince fans that he's a worthy replacement for Cavill, but he also has to excel in the role of Geralt of Rivia.
Unfortunately, the live-action adaptation, created by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, received no small amount of criticism over the course of three seasons due to significant deviations from the original storyline — according to many fans, the series not only failed to capture the essence of The Witcher Saga, but also messed up some characters). So it was Henry Cavill who was the main attraction of the series for four years. But why did he leave the project and did it have something to do with some behind-the-scenes drama?
Cavill Reportedly Left the Project for Another Role
Henry Cavill has repeatedly stated how much of a fan of Andrzej Sapkowski's work he is, and that playing the role of Geralt of Rivia was a great honor for him. Unfortunately, the actor left the project after three seasons.
According to various reports, the actor had to leave the project because of a more attractive project. Thus, Cavill was preparing to reprise the role of Superman in James Gunn's reboot of the same name, scheduled for 2025. The reason seems compelling, as the big-budget Warner Bros. movie clearly promised Henry Cavill a much bigger paycheck.
However, as we know, the role of Clark Kent eventually went to David Corenswet. Besides, it seems highly doubtful that Cavill, one of the loudest geeks in Hollywood, would pass up the opportunity to continue playing Geralt, a role he has always dreamed of.
However, Fans Believe It Was Something Else Entirely
As a result, many fans came to the conclusion that the reason lay in the conflict that erupted between Cavill and the writers of The Witcher. The actor claimed that the screenwriters did not realize how deep Geralt is as a character, making him just a silent and grumpy knucklehead, and therefore, to achieve more emotional depth, he was 'pushing this stuff as far as prep goes' on a daily basis.
Indirect confirmation of the conflict between Cavill and the writers' room came from none other than the show's former producer and director Beau DeMayo, who stated that the writers were not respecting the source material:
'I've been on show — namely Witcher — where some of the writers were not or actively disliked the books and games (even actively mocking the source material). It's a recipe for disaster and bad morale.'
What Is Henry Cavill Doing Now, in 2024?
Unfortunately, we won't know the truth anytime soon. One thing we can say for sure, however, is that even if the situation with The Witcher were to be rectified, it is unlikely that Cavill would return to the project.
Today, he has the creative reins over the franchise, which the actor is no less passionate about. After Amazon Studios acquired the rights to Warhammer 40,000, Henry Cavill was named executive producer and star of the upcoming live-action adaptations.
In the meantime, The Witcher Season 4 is expected to be released in 2025.
Source: HardwareZone, The Direct.