Back in October, The Witcher Netflix series - loosely inspired by CD Projekt Red's video games - announced Henry Cavill (who plays the main character Geralt) would be replaced by Liam Hemsworth in Season 4.
Not long after this, Cavill announced he would be reprising his role as Superman. Now, in a separate development, Cavill has officially been dropped by the DC Universe - with the new co-chairman James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, Suicide Squad) announcing an overhaul to the Superman movies.
This has now got some fans of Cavill (and The Witcher) wondering if he could perhaps continue on as Geralt beyond Season 3.
Speaking to Variety, Netflix has confirmed Season 4 will be moving forward "unchanged". Netflix's head of U.S. and Canada scripted series Peter Friedlander also previously mentioned how The Witcher series is now committed to Liam Hemsworth as Geralt:
“Henry is an extraordinary Geralt and I think Liam will continue and also be an extraordinary Geralt. There has been a legacy of amazing, iconic characters where the actors have changed and we’re hugely optimistic about this. We will continue to honor the IP, the fans, the storytelling, all the way through.”
You can see Cavill's parting messages about Superman and The Witcher below:
Henry Cavill (via Netflix) “My journey as Geralt of Rivia has been filled with both monsters and adventures, and alas, I will be laying down my medallion and my swords for Season 4. In my stead, the fantastic Mr. Liam Hemsworth will be taking up the mantle of the White Wolf. As with the greatest of literary characters, I pass the torch with reverence for the time spent embodying Geralt and enthusiasm to see Liam's take on this most fascinating and nuanced of men. Liam, good sir, this character has such a wonderful depth to him, enjoy diving in and seeing what you can find.”
Since Cavill announced he would be moving on from The Witcher, fans of the show have set up a petition on Change.org asking Netflix to replace the show's writers instead. The petition currently has more than 285,000 signatures. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cavill is now reportedly in talks with Amazon to star in and executive produce a series based on the tabletop miniatures game Warhammer 40,000.
Update: Cavill has now confirmed this himself (via Instagram). You can learn more over on the official Warhammer website.
"For 30 years I have dreamt of seeing a Warhammer universe in live action. Now, after 22 years of experience in this industry, I finally feel that I have the skill set and experience to guide a Warhammer cinematic Universe into life. Partnering with Natalie Viscuso at Vertigo has been a blessing beyond words, without her we might not have found the perfect home at Amazon. And having a home like Amazon will give us the freedom to be true to the massive scope of Warhammer. To all of you Warhammer fans out there, I promise to respect this IP that we love. I promise to bring you something familiar. And I endeavor to bring you something fantastic that is, as of yet, unseen. Our first steps are to find our Filmmaker/Creator/Writer. Watch this space, my friends. For the Emperor!"
On a related note, earlier this week, CD Projekt Red released its 4.0.0 update for The Witcher 3 video game. It includes a graphics upgrade on next-gen platforms, and also features some exclusive Netflix-inspired goodies to unlock. Unfortunately, Version 4.0.0 is not available on the Nintendo Switch just yet, but when it is, we'll be sure to let you know.
How are you feeling about Henry Cavill moving on from The Witcher Netflix show? What about the Superman news? Share your thoughts below.
[source variety.com]
Comments 72
Guess he jumped the Gun on that Superman thing and left Witcher before cementing the deal.
@Tasuki It's more of that WB brought in some people to change the direction of the DC universe and they didn't want him to be part of it - something that is out of his control and also a decision that was made after WB and Cavil were originally locked in for the next steps in the franchise. DC Universe has been shaky at best and they decided to adjust their direction and the new people in charge are not sticking with the original plan. He didn't jump the gun at all.
Still massively disappointing. Hard to imagine a show surviving something as drastic as a change in the lead actor after three seasons.
Guess Supes is just out of a job now, lol.
@hippoeater You missed the joke.
I think he’s a boring actor and there have been bad rumors going on about him, so I’m glad he’s gone. Hopefully hemsworth give the role a better justice.
Netflix's series is not inspired by the game only the book. It's a poor series that should end after the first season. This is a great decision for Cavill and his career.
If it's Henry's choice to still not return to The Witcher even after being dropped again as Superman, then ok, that's his choice. If Netflix wouldn't even bother contacting him to see if he would come back now, well, then that's just idiotic.
This is one instance where there may not be enough people that are sheep that will watch something no matter what. That's an extremely large amount of people who signed the petition, and the amount of disappointment and backlash might have already sealed the show's fate after Season 4. All of that would be meaningless if they would have brought back Henry as Geralt.
@Dom_31 Not similar at all. He left The Witcher. He was told they didn't want him as Superman anymore for the second time.
So be it, I find him quite wooden tbh, so will miss him in neither. I can’t really imagine hemsworth as Geralt but The Witcher series has been pretty average so far IMO so a shake up is welcome and I think this will make it or break it.
It was never an either or proposition. There were creative conflicts on The Witcher. People just connected the two because of the timing on The Witcher announcement coincided with his Black Adam cameo.
DC is so desperate though.
This worship of Hollywood employees is getting weird.
I do feel really bad for him, as casualty number 5000 of this entire Warner Bros Discovery debacle. Of course the whole thing is so volatile that I could imagine him back again in a year anyway.
@NatiaAdamo Are you implying he jumped the gun on replying about jumping the Gun?
Just another turn in the DC "how can we f this movie up" factory
Too good. Jumps ship on Witcher because he didn't like the writing (akin to quitting McDonalds due to not liking the menu) with big $$$ in his eyes with Superman only to have it yanked from under him.
Seems like he's going to be dancing with the stars before long with the way his career choices are going.
i didnt really like him as an actor , hes is not one of my favourites but his not bad either , i have to say i liked his personallity very much, , i wish a good role for him exists , he deserve it after all !!
I breathe a sigh of relief. I’d like to see him in expand his wings to unexpected projects. I know he can do big movies and series with sizable budgets. How about indies? Horror films? Romantic comedy? Something different! I know he can do it; I love and respect him as an actor. This is an opportunity.
@Tasuki Not really, though. He left The Witcher because the writers hate the material and he's a massive fan of the books/games. He didn't like participating in something that actively went against the property.
@theModestMouse Well, the writing was, in fact, terrible. It would be more akin to quitting your job at McDonalds because they start forcing you to address customers with flooberdeebloop and do a little dance.
And you ruined the algorithm. Now I am getting McDonalds ads hahaha.
And i had so much high hopes after the amazing black adam movie.
Superman is my all time favorite DC super hero, together with the Hulk from marvel.
And they managed to screw them both lol.
That sucks. WB/Gunn did him dirty. Why have him cameo if you were gonna back out anyway? Hope whatever DC puts out flops (for Clark Kent anyway).
He has a great superman face but I guess so do many others. He and everyone else will move on, nothing too dramatic I‘d say.
Word has it Henry's going to partake in a Warhammer 40,000 series not just as the Star, but also as the Executive Producer, and Amazon wants to publish it.
I’m pretty sure this is all because he’s going to be announced as the next James Bond. He’s reportedly been in the running for years and anyone who has seen him in Man from Uncle or Mission Impossible can see that that’s how they are pushing for him (a similar thing happened with Daniel Craig and Layer Cake). Tbh if I was him I would be looking to jump from the Witcher (due to the fact it just isn’t very good) and anything DC are doing (how they manage to release flop after flop and keep going is beyond me). DC just can’t seem to admit that trying grittier approaches with Superman is entirely the wrong way to go; he is meant to be the most hopeful and wholesome of all the heroes and the Christopher Reeve films nailed that (‘believe a man can fly’). The theme tune alone is up there with Star Wars and Indiana Jones as inspiring and uplifting (thanks John Williams!)
I do sympathize with Cavill constantly being jerked around on the Superman thing, but at the same time I'm glad he won't actually be returning to the role because while he's a great actor who could probably play the part well there's just so much associated baggage with his depiction at this point.
It'd be very hard to look past how every movie he's played the part in to this point has been horrendous and all the stupid choices made about the canon getting there.
TBH the idea of a WH40k to series gives me some hope, especially as it’s on Amazon who have a knack for chucking money at these things.
Here’s hoping they go with something ‘straightforward’ like Gaunt’s Ghosts or Eisenhorn.
@Gamecuber If they want him as Bond, they'll have to get a move on. It looks like we could be 1-2 years away from production starting, another year at least from release, so he'll potentially be 42 when the first one comes out. If he's bond for as long as Craig was, he'll be 57 when the last film comes out.
He left the Witcher because of the mistreatment of the source material that he is a big fan of...which is what made him want the role to begin with. Can't blame him not returning to the role.
And the rebooted dceu will be dead on arrival.
Huh. I expected him to continue being Superman after his cameo in Black Adam. Too bad.
I wonder what the deal was with Gunn dropping him from the role. He seemed an okay Superman.
Hopefully the fall of DC will also be followed by the fall of Marvel and we can start getting some real films again in the cinema.
@calbeau Gunn wanted to write his own “Superman” film, and more or less do a origin story/young Superman film.
EDIT: More or less similar to Matt Reeves’ The Batman
@Madao DC and Marvel are real films plus if you aren't watching the likes of Bullettrain, Top Gun, Avatar, The Meal, Smile, Everything Everywhere and such then that's your problem. End of the day once the comic book movie phase ends Hollywood will move on to the next big thing something they have been doing since forever, once upon time it was endless westerns then endless Star Wars knock offs then endless slashes and so on.
@WallyWest I do watch the odd actual movie that comes out. Just waiting for the era of super hero commercials disguised as films to end so we get more of them.
Of course he won't return. He didn't like the writing of season 2 and even said he hopes they get back to the books in season 3. Which they probably aren't because the only positive Cavill has said about s3 is the fight scenes. I don't think Cavill is too bothered by any of this, he'll get another gig and do great things.
Rumor has it he will be the next James Bond. That wouldn't be a bad choice.
@Madao I agree, the franchises do need some overhauling. Marvel, especially, with their plan to just gender-swap existing characters rather than rummage through their extensive line-up. Got nothing against female versions of male characters, but the franchise could do with a breath of fresh air.
@AverageGamer Ah, so that explains it. Can't tell yet if that's a good idea or not, but hopefully it'll be similar to The Batman, where they skip the origin story.
Cavill in a Warhammer 40,000 series though. It already looks awesome in my head. He'd make a good God-Emperor.
Talk about a case of going off half cocked, er half caped rather. I'm honestly getting bored with this guy. He doesn't know what he wants to do. Eh no biggie. Christopher Reeve will always be my superman anyway. Why would i want more of the superman who constantly looks like he's holding in a dump? All scowly and angry looking just ain't superman.
Just retire dude. I think people are getting sick of your act anyway. He had a good run.
@Dragonite89 Hemsworth is a boring actor too. He’s a b action movie actor at best. At least Cavill has on screen presence. I suppose that counts for something.
@Tasuki you mean jumped the Gunn.
@Tasuki He left The Witcher due to "creative differences" aka terrible writers who ridicule and piss on the IP.
He never left The Witcher due to Superman. Hence, why he also won't return to The Witcher, since the same writers (who piss on the IP) are still there. So why would he?
He has always been upfront and clear on this from the very start. He is a hardcore fan of the Witcher books and has played the games himself. He would only play in the series for as long as the writers respect and honor the IP. Which they end up not doing, even openly mocking the IP and taking a piss on it.
It would also be a terrible move for his reputation, since he build up a lot of credit within his fanbase for leaving The Witcher, because of his love for the IP and how Netflix end up pissing on said IP.
Latest rumor is that he has now been approached by GW and Amazon for a Warhammer Series, where he is allowed to both star in it and take on Producer role. Another IP he greatly enjoys (he plays WH40k himself).
So if this rumor end up being true, then it will be a new passion project for him and I personally looking forward to it.
EDIT: No longer a rumor Effing awesome!
https://www.warhammer-community.com/2022/12/16/warhammer-starring-henry-cavill/
@calbeau You do realise the "gender swapped" heroes are in the comics right? Like She Hulk is older then most of the people who visit this site.
@WallyWest What part of my comment made you assume I wasn't aware they existed?
@Dragonite89 what bad rumors? Lol troll much?
@theModestMouse oh please, I don't understand why so many of you haters hate him? It's like the woke brigade just can't stand a strong masculine man in Hollywood. I bet that soy tofu latte tastes great, lol. He has jobs coming out the wazoo and is one of the higgest paid actors in Hollywood right now.
He left the Witcher as the Witcher writes hate the books and games. He always said he would leave when the series was no longer holding true to the quality. Also he didn't leave Witcher to go to Superman. Superman wouldn't be taking up all his time. The studio signed him to be Superman again so I'm sure he made millions from his Black Adam cameo. Sad as I was looking forward to seeing them square up. So many Cavill haters out there.
Actors lose jobs all the time. This is the name of the game in the industry. At the end of the day he will get another project and make more than you do in a life time by the end of the week.
@its_luke_c And a big project it's going to be.
https://www.warhammer-community.com/2022/12/16/warhammer-starring-henry-cavill/
@calbeau or as a more left field idea Cavill as Caiphas Caine!
He's still in the running to join the MCU as Hyperion. Cavill isn't playing "woe is me," he's keeping the irons hot and working on other projects. If anything, he's been trying to escape the Superman shadow that almost got him type casted. He was excellent in Mission Impossible. I look at this as a chance to break free.
Also, WB changed hands twice during the DCEU run: Time Warner, then to WarnerMedia. Discovery probably thought, "these contracts are a mess!" The movies were hit and miss in the box office, sadly the ones featuring Cavil in "Batman vs Superman" and "Justice League" (Joss Whedon) weren't huge box office hits for their budgets. They probably have nothing to lose at this point since the universe was an utter mess.
Can't say I didn't see this coming... because I did. Everyone cheered for "Batgirl" being cancelled, but I knew Discovery wasn't going to stop there. Michael Keaton is completely out from DC after the movie cancelation, which has now force the "Batman Beyond" to be canned too. Brendan Fraser is dropping hints he's done with them, he was very candid on his thoughts about canceling the film and said it has create trust issues with the studio. Doom Patrol is probably on its way out after season four, I don't see how he would've been that candid if he didn't have anything to lose.
Aside from Discovery burning the DCEU down, I think the only projects that are safe (for now) is Reeves' Batman and Joker. Gunn is getting full range on what to do with his DCU. With GotG and TSS, I'm hopeful he'll make something enjoyable. He needs to nail this Superman casting. Biggest rumor is he's interested in casting for John Stewart's Green Lantern too.
@KilloWertz I guess he's more happy to be part of the Warhammer universe now that he's gonna work with Amazon for a new show👌
@Dragonite89 Ah yes we live in a time where 'Rumors' are true...
I heard rumors you eat kittens! you kitten eater!
@WallyWest She-Hulk is an old character but it is not a genderswapped Bruce Banner and what was in that televised abomination was not She-hulk but a serialized collection of tiktok like cringe under the same name.
WB has f'ed up their own projects for such a long time, that they've no changed plans: Now they're also going to f up other companies' projects.
What we really need now is a rebooted superhero franchise. That'll get audiences interested. Hey, what about another origin story?
@calbeau distaff counterparts have existed in comics for decades (and that isn’t even getting into female characters that are simply successors like both Captain Marvels or clones like X-23 or male characters that actually came back female like Ms. Sinister or characters with no male counter part such as WW (unless you count wonder man on earth 11)). And they have their own histories and back stories. (Kara Zor-El has the same powers as her cousin but she isn’t Clark Kent in a skirt/pants suit) do you just not want any female superheroes? It isn’t like having movies with female superheroes is somehow untrue to the source material. Which means those so called “gender swap” characters are a part of the existing extensive line up.
I haven't watched any superhero movies in years; I can't believe people are still into that stuff. It's like watching a slightly different version of the same movie over and over again. The whole trend can't die soon enough.
@Ryu_Niiyama Yes, I'm aware of their existence. My comment did say I have no problems with them, but Disney/Marvel is obviously playing safe by just replacing their existing characters with their counterparts, rather than going for another character in their extensive line-up.
Considering today's societal views and Disney's politics though, I'm not surprised.
screw wb/dc their just shooting themselves in the foot at this point whcih i wouldnt be surprised marvel give cavil a role to play would make dc regret their horrible decisions their making and besides after aqua man 2 im officially done with dc such a messy state their in.
Removed - trolling/baiting
@StAmbrosius Krypton has racial diversity the same as Earth. Minus the racism as classism was what divided Krypton mostly. And characters like Val-Zod and Cavin Ellis wear the cape. Don’t know about the rest although Supergirl is canonically bi. All of that is sourced from the comics.
They should bring Sunshine Superman back.
@theModestMouse
I think he'll be fine. If folks are willing to follow him, regardless of franchise, I don't think he'll have much to worry about.
Dude did a fantastic job as the Witcher, despite the writing going downhill. He's being picked up for Warhammer, and will likely have plenty of other opportunities.
“ And having a home like Amazon will give us the freedom to be true to the massive scope of Warhammer”
Interesting choice of words. I thought he was going to say “true to the source material”, coz that definitely isn’t happening with Amazon financing it.
Good luck, Henry.
He leaves behind two incredibly horrible franchises, I see no problem with this. I'm not a Cavill fan either, so that didn't help my already deep seated disdain for these franchises.
@NorwegianMate True, especially how he's been unhappy with them not following the books and that he's also a big Warhammer fan along with The Witcher. For him, I hope they do a good job with Warhammer. As much as WB has messed with him ever since Man of Steel, I have no ill will towards him over his departure from The Witcher.
I wonder if he would have left if he knew that he was not going to be reprising his role as Superman after all. Shame as he was a great Geralt and I don't really know much about Liam Hemsworth but hopefully he knows the source material as well as Henry did.
Great opportunity for marvel to hire him as Hyperion (the marvel superman)
Boring actor playing the boring Geralt. Not a great loss.
I wonder if this ups his chances as the next James Bond?
Also it sounds like he gave up Witcher for a promised Superman role - although this could well be far from the truth. But if it was the case he could probably lawyer up for some big cheddar for lost earnings.
@WallyWest "older than". Not "older then".
Also, a female equivalent is NOT the same as a gender swap.
He's very careful with his words in interviews. But I think he hinted that he didn't like where the show writers of The Witcher were headed anyway. Changing the lore too much and making the series more about the female leads instead of Geralt.
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