‘The Witcher’s’ Ciri Star Considered Leaving After Henry Cavill’s Departure: “I Cried”

Freya Allan, who plays Ciri in Netflix’s The Witcher, has revealed that she almost left the show after Henry Cavill announced his departure.

Cavill, who played Geralt of Rivia, confirmed in October 2022 that he would be leaving the series after season 3, with Liam Hemsworth stepping in as the new Geralt.

Allan told NME that she only learned about Cavill’s exit a day before it became public, while she was filming Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. She admitted that season three was emotionally tough.

“I cried because I wanted to finish the show with the guy that played my adoptive father. For the first time, I was seeing what life away from The Witcher could look like and then the lead moves on…”

For a time, Allan seriously considered leaving the series herself. However, she decided to continue with the role of Ciri, wanting to complete her journey. “Once I’d made that choice, I made the most of every moment,” she said.

The switch from Cavill to Hemsworth added more challenges because Ciri and Geralt’s characters are mostly apart in season 4, appearing together only in flashbacks and visions. Allan noted that she often thought of Cavill while filming those scenes. “He’s the Geralt I grew up with,” she said.

Cavill’s departure sparked significant reactions from fans, and losing Allan too could have intensified the backlash. With Geralt and Ciri at the center of the story, maintaining continuity for Ciri helped fans adjust to the new actor playing Geralt.

Season 4 of ‘The Witcher’ is now available on Netflix, starring Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia.

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