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Original Geralt actor “really sad” to see Henry Cavill leave The Witcher, but excited for Liam Hemsworth

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Original Geralt actor "really sad" to see Henry Cavill leave The Witcher, but excited for Liam Hemsworth

As a seasoned critic with a penchant for fantasy series and a soft spot for characters that walk the line between hero and anti-hero, I’ve followed the journey of Geralt of Rivia with bated breath since the inception of The Witcher franchise. Having had the privilege of witnessing Henry Cavill’s portrayal of the White Wolf, I must admit it was nothing short of masterful. His performance was so captivating that I found myself rooting for Geralt even when he made questionable decisions (as any good anti-hero should).

2023 looks set to be a standout year for Netflix’s fantasy series “The Witcher”, having completed a successful third season. However, there have been significant changes backstage, with lead actor Henry Cavill stepping away from the production. When the show returns for its fourth season, it will be Liam Hemsworth, known for his role in “The Hunger Games”, wearing the white wig to play Geralt. This shift has left many fans pondering, as Cavill’s portrayal of Geralt was one of the most acclaimed aspects of the show. Despite some adaptation challenges with “The Witcher”, there was generally consensus among viewers that Cavill was an ideal choice for Geralt of Rivia.

That’s a hard act to follow up no matter how you slice it. And if there’s anybody that might be particularly aware of that, it’s Doug Cockle, the voice actor who famously portrayed Geralt in the beloved Witcher video games by CD Projekt Red. Cockle’s growling interpretation of the witcher is so well-loved that even Cavill himself took notes, making sure he was developing his own version of Geralt without leaning too hard on the nuances of Cockle’s performance.

In February next year, Cockle will reprise his role as Geralt of Rivia in a Netflix animated movie entitled “The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep“. With him now joining the Netflix series, what are his thoughts on the fact that the live-action Geralt is being recast?

At EGX/MCM Comic-Con, Cockle expressed his feelings about Henry departing, saying, “I found it truly unfortunate that Henry is leaving, as I enjoyed both his acting and him personally. He even invited me to the show’s London premiere, where we became acquainted, and I can assure you, he’s an exceptional individual with a deep affection for The Witcher universe. Hearing about his departure left me feeling quite sad.

Even though he was quite upset about Cavill’s departure, Cockle didn’t let it completely dampen his spirits regarding the recast. He’s equally excited to see Hemsworth embody Geralt as well. Cockle articulated that he’s an advocate for appreciating unique contributions, stating, “I believe in assessing what each person adds to the mix.” After all, while Cockle is well-known for his portrayal of Geralt, it’s important to remember that others have also played the witcher – there are audiobook narrators, actors from Polish film adaptations, and many more.

Liam is a talented actor, and I can’t wait to discover his unique portrayal of Geralt,” Cockle expressed. “You know, each interpretation will be distinct, unlike mine, unlike Henry’s, or Peter Kenny’s from the audiobook series. I’m simply thrilled to see how he brings Geralt to life.

As I sat down to watch “The Witcher,” I shared the same doubts as many fans: Could Henry Cavill truly embody the scarred White Wolf, Geralt, after being known for his Superman persona? Was his charm too pretty for this gritty role? But, once the action unfolded, all my reservations dissipated. Just like we might find ourselves questioning Chris Hemsworth’s fit for an upcoming role, only time will tell if he can captivate us as effectively.

It’s quite apt that this reimagining occurs at this specific point in the narrative flow. Toward the end of season 3 of The Witcher, Geralt experiences a crushing loss at the hands of the sorcerer Vilgefortz of Roggeveen, leaving him with grievous wounds that persist throughout the entirety of Andrzej Sapkowski’s book series. In subsequent novels, Geralt embarks on a new journey to locate his adoptive daughter Ciri across the continent as the conflict between Nilfgaard and the Northern Kingdoms intensifies. Without revealing too many spoilers, the final Witcher book incorporates a host of peculiar, multiverse-related elements that may align with the notion that Geralt of Rivia might appear differently in season 4.

However, let’s not jump to conclusions. The next instance where you’ll witness Geralt of Rivia will be portrayed by Doug Cockle in the animated movie titled “The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep”, which is set to release on February 11, 2025. As for the main series show, it completed filming for season 4 last week, so we can expect it a while later.

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2024-11-02 00:41

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