Liam Hemsworth says fan outcry over Witcher recasting forced social media hiatus

Liam Hemsworth says fan outcry over replacing Henry Cavill in The Witcher forced him to take a social media hiatus, saying the noise started to become a distraction. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly published Sept. 26, 2025, the Melbourne-born actor explained that he had to set distractions aside to focus on the role. Hemsworth, 35, has stepped into Geralt of Rivia after Cavill’s departure in 2022; season four will arrive Oct. 30 on Netflix.

Hemsworth acknowledged the backlash would be hard to ignore, telling Entertainment Weekly that there was "quite a bit of noise" and that he had to put that aside as it started to become a distraction. He added that he had "jumped off social media and the internet most of last year" to stay focused on the role. The Australian actor also noted his passion for the craft, saying, "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." He has previously called Cavill a fan of what he did in the show and said he respected the actor’s work as he takes over the mantle.

Hemsworth described the physical demands of portraying Geralt, including the extensive makeup that transforms him for the role. "It takes two or three people to put it on and off, but it looks really cool," he said, noting the long days on set at Longcross Film Studios, about 25 miles from London. The production has continued under Hemsworth’s tenure, with long hours and grueling heat described during sweltering days of shooting alongside Freya Allan and Anya Chalotra.

Cavill, who opened the baton handoff in announcing the switch in 2022, offered a gracious farewell that underscored the show’s world-building and character depth. "In my stead, the fantastic Mr. Liam Hemsworth will be taking up the mantle of the White Wolf," Cavill said at the time. He added: "Liam, good sir, this character has such a wonderful depth to him. Enjoy diving in and seeing what you can find."

Season four of The Witcher arrives on Netflix on October 30, with Hemsworth stepping into the lead role opposite Freya Allan and Anya Chalotra. The recasting remains one of the show’s most discussed moments as audiences adjust to a new interpretation of Geralt of Rivia, a character shaped by decades of fantasy storytelling and the show’s evolving adaptation.