Liam Hemsworth Went Offline to Avoid Backlash as the New Witcher
Liam Hemsworth is stepping into the role of Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher Season 4, and he knew it would come with big challenges.
Taking over from Henry Cavill, whose performance had set a high bar for fans, Hemsworth expected criticism from the passionate Witcher community. In a new interview with EW, he revealed how he protected himself from the backlash: by going offline.
“There was quite a bit of noise and I had to put that aside. It started to become a distraction. I dealt with that sort of thing in the past a lot and, you know, at the end of the day, I love making movies and I love telling stories and acting. I just don’t want any of that to affect my way of telling the story that I’m trying to tell. I jumped off social media and the internet most of last year,” Hemsworth explained.
Netflix first announced Cavill’s departure in 2022, and showrunner Lauren Hissrich said the decision had been discussed for a while.
Cavill wanted to focus on other projects, including Warhammer 40K and the Highlander reboot, which has since been delayed due to injury. Hemsworth, a longtime fan of The Witcher video games, says he was surprised when he got the call.
“It came out of nowhere. I was as surprised as anyone,” Hemsworth said.
Rather than imitate Cavill, Hemsworth studied the books and the earlier seasons to find his own version of Geralt. He connected with the character’s protective nature, which he relates to his own upbringing with a father in child protection.
Hemsworth also wanted to highlight the humor and humanity beneath Geralt’s tough exterior, aiming to bring a fresh take to the role.
Season 4 will debut all eight episodes on Netflix on October 30. The Witcher’s fifth and final season is already in production, moving the story toward the conclusion based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s Lady of the Lake.
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
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