Starting Season 4
https://nypost.com/2022/10/29/liam-hemsworth-to-replace-henry-cavill-on-the-witcher/

Interesting choice, it's good that another well known actor takes this role. I just hope they don't turn the Witcher into a bodybuilder pretty boy. I want a witcher with fancy sword moves doing half-pirouettes, not a buff fighter that use the sword like a hammer.

Just to be clear in case there is any confusion, Liam is the younger brother of Thor. So maybe he has a small hammer (called Jonathan).

There it goes all the good things that the show has.

I interviewed him two years ago. Its called Percival.

I haven't seen a compelling enough story being told to keep watching, although I kept giving it extra chances just because it's the Witcher and Henry Cavill did a great job filling those shoes. Plus they made Yen and Triss pretty unappealing...esp disappointing in the case of Triss bcuz she's my fave in the game.

"100 Ways to Mess Up a Show", lesson 9: The main character fits perfectly? Replace him!
LOL

Honestly, I think Cavill chose to leave so the show had to find a replacement.

The obvious point is that DC is getting revived and Cavill has been selected to return as Superman. Although some point out that Cavill could play both Superman and Geralt, Cavill was doing short scenes and a full movie as Superman would probably take far more dedication so he would have to choose one.

However, given that Cavill is a massive fan of the Witcher to the point that he is actually the "local expert on set," its highly likely that he chose to leave because the show is not lore accurate anymore. Cavill talks about lore accuracy when it comes to the show often (season 3 will stick closely with the books, we want to be accurate to the books, etc.) so given that the writers dont care and even despise the Witcher, Cavill chose to pack his bags for greener pastures.

Kind of feel bad for Liam because he is going to get undue hate but yeah, there really isnt anything left for the Witcher. Couldnt stand season 2 and season 3 wasnt grabbing me anyway. Knowing Cavill is gone, Im just dropping it for other shows.

on the bright side at least Henry Cavill reputation will not get ruin if the next season tanks.

I actually REALLY love the show (and pretty much everything Witcher-related), and I've never understood the whining, so this news hits me way harder because I want to see it succeed. I like pretty much everything about the show but Cavill was absolutely the best part of the series. Hemsworth is overrated. I could MAYBE see it working if they did a spinoff or soft reboot of some sort but yeah, just trying to smooth it over is ridiculous. They really should have just ended it with this third season, let the show rest while it was still great.

If they wanted to do that, they would have done so with Cavill. He's good for both.

I did some research: Looks like Cavill signed for three seasons witth the assumption, that the show won't be continued past that. So he already planed out his next projects (like his return as Superman) and wasn't available anymore.

Honestly, considering how badly the show has been handled by the showrunner, I'm not surprised Henry Cavill lost all interest in the production. He has so much drive and dedication that it's a shame his efforts were wasted.

Luckly we're getting a new Superman, and who knows what else... maybe a new 007 I can care for, since Pierce Brosnan.

Well, that sucks, I lost almost all interest in the show after watching season 2, and even if season 3 sticks closer to the books it doesn't matter too much for me since they changed so many things about the lore. I will just watch it and hope that this new story inspired in the books has a good plot and wish that the battle at the yaruga bridge is made.

In my opinion, if you have read the books or play the games, the show is an heresy, if you haven't read the books or played the games it's just a basic fantasy show like a lot available on Netflix so i can understand why Cavil left if he realy like The Witcher as it have nothing to do with the books while it was suposed to be an adaptation not a total rewriting of the story.

Thats interesting. Im assuming the initial contract was 3 seasons but given it was apparently one of Netflix's rare successes, show runners want it to go for another 7.

https://gamerant.com/henry-cavill-the-witcher-return-condition/

According to this article, Cavill was on board and said he was willing to come back to the Witcher for its entire 8 season run as long as:
1) the showrunners continue making high-quality programming (sounds like fluff)
2) the stories that are pumped out stay true to the vision of the author of the books

Given that the Witcher was also a passion project and Cavill has turned down work for Superman in the past (refusing to shave stash for Justice League when filming for Mission Impossible), I think Cavill would have extended his contract and stuck around for the Witcher if he really loved its direction.

On a separate note, how Cavill leaving is "good" for the Witcher lol.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/henry-cavill-leaving-the-witcher-liam-hemsworth-b2214059.html

Has there been any show that survived its main lead actor (and main draw) getting replaced? Every show I can think of basically died soon after the main character had to leave (that 70s show, the office, House of Cards, Rosanne, Two and a Half Men, Scrubs, Walking Dead). Maybe procedural shows survive major cast changes (Law and Order, CSI) because they are more episode driven and having characters die but for story driven shows, this rarely if ever works out. This isnt even a critique of the replacement actors. Audiences tend to love characters, especially main characters, so losing them basically wraps the story.