‘The Witcher’ Showrunner Lauren Hissrich Reveals Why Henry Cavill Really Left the Production
Henry Cavill’s exit from The Witcher is still one of the biggest shake-ups in the fantasy series, and now showrunner Lauren Hissrich has opened up about what really happened. Cavill’s last appearance as Geralt of Rivia was in season 3, with Liam Hemsworth set to step into the role when season 4 arrives.
For years, fans speculated about why Cavill left, with theories ranging from behind-the-scenes disagreements to his possible return as Superman.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hissrich explained that the decision came down to Cavill wanting to pursue other projects. “He had plans for other roles that he really wanted to commit himself to,” she said.
She added that the conversation about his exit had been going on for some time. “And for us, you don’t want to hold someone and force them to be doing something that they don’t want to do. I think that’s why it felt like a really symbiotic decision.”
At the time of his departure, Cavill did announce plans to return as Superman and even appeared briefly in Black Adam. But those plans were later scrapped as DC moved in a new direction under James Gunn. Since then, Cavill has focused on other projects, including developing a Warhammer 40K series for Amazon and starring in the upcoming Highlander reboot.
Replacing Cavill with Liam Hemsworth sparked a lot of debate online. Hemsworth admitted he felt the pressure when the news broke. “There was quite a bit of noise and I had to put that aside. It started to become a distraction,” he said. To focus, he decided to step away from social media.
Hissrich revealed that Hemsworth was actually the first person she spoke to when looking at who might replace Cavill. She noted that his name had been discussed for a long time. Hemsworth himself said he was surprised by the offer but excited to take on the challenge.
A long-time fan of The Witcher video games, he admitted to playing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt several times, calling it “one of the best video games of all time.”
Hemsworth also spoke about what drew him to Geralt. “I’m a massive fan of Henry’s, and I’m a fan of what he did in the show,” he said. But he also connected with the character in a personal way. He explained that his father worked in child protection, which gave him a strong sense of caring for others.
“We were brought up with this real sense of taking care of people around you. There’s elements of that I felt connected to.”
The Continent awaits. Here’s your exclusive first clip of Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher Season 4. Returns 30th October, only on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/CTvryeUmRd
— The Witcher (@witchernetflix) September 14, 2025
According to Hissrich, she and Hemsworth had early conversations about bringing out more of Geralt’s humor and humanity. “The other really great thing about Liam is he takes this really, really seriously,” she said. She explained that Hemsworth wanted to balance continuity with Cavill’s version while also making the role his own.
With Cavill moving on to other projects and Hemsworth preparing to take over, The Witcher is entering a new chapter. Fans will soon see how Hemsworth interprets Geralt, while Cavill continues carving his own path outside the Continent.
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