Liam Hemsworth opens up about Witcher backlash and social media hiatus as he steps into Geralt

Liam Hemsworth says fan outcry over his replacement of Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia on Netflix’s The Witcher forced him to take a social media hiatus, with the actor describing the online backlash as a distraction from the work. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly published Thursday, the 35-year-old Melbourne, Australia-born actor said the noise surrounding his casting was difficult to ignore and that he needed to focus on delivering the performance fans expect from the beloved fantasy series.

There was quite a bit of noise and I had to put that aside,” Hemsworth told Entertainment Weekly. “It started to become a distraction.” Hemsworth stepped into the role after Cavill, who portrayed Geralt through the first three seasons, handed over the mantle in October 2022. To block out the chatter and concentrate on the craft, Hemsworth said he pulled back from social media for a significant stretch of 2024, noting, “I jumped off social media and the internet most of last year.”

Hemsworth described the physical and practical demands of inhabiting Geralt, including the extensive makeup required to transform him for the role. He said it takes two or three people to apply and remove the prosthetics, a process he noted is “really cool” once fully in place. Production on The Witcher is based at Longcross Film Studios, about 25 miles from London, where cast members Freya Allan and Anya Chalotra share the screen alongside Hemsworth as they delve into the next chapter of the series.

Beyond the technical elements, Hemsworth emphasized his commitment to storytelling. “At the end of the day, I love making movies and I love telling stories and acting,” he said, explaining his decision to focus on the craft rather than the noise surrounding him. The actor also recalled his admiration for Cavill’s work on the show, acknowledging that replacing a fan-favorite character would be challenging and that Cavill had nothing but reverence for his successor.

“Liam, good sir, this character has such a wonderful depth to him. Enjoy diving in and seeing what you can find,” Cavill wrote when announcing the baton pass. The former Geralt thanked the show’s producers and supporters for the opportunity while wishing Hemsworth well as he took on what many consider one of fantasy television’s most demanding roles.

Season four of The Witcher premieres on Netflix on October 30, bringing Hemsworth into the ongoing adaptation’s latest arc alongside a returning cast. The new run continues to explore the morally complex world created by Andrzej Sapkowski, with Hemsworth aiming to balance fidelity to the source material with his own interpretation of Geralt’s tempestuous journey. As fans await the new episodes, the show’s production team has underscored the importance of the cast’s collaboration and the practical challenges of bringing such a sprawling fantasy universe to life for a streaming audience.