The news that Henry Cavill will depart the lead role of Geralt in The Witcher and make way for The Hunger Games star Liam Hemsworth to take over has left fans stunned. But showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich isn’t worried, believing that the recasting will imbue the series with a fresh, new energy.

“I’m so excited for viewers. I think that it’s just a new chapter for us. And I think new chapters bring new energy and that people will find things to love. So yeah, personally, I’m really excited.”

Speaking with Total Film, Hissrich is excited for audiences to see Hemsworth take over as Geralt of Rivia. Of course, that’s if audiences will even return once Cavill has walked away following the end of the upcoming third season. The surprise announcement that Cavill will retire from The Witcher occurred back in October, with the actor saying, “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.” Cavill went on to reveal that Independence Day: Resurgence star Liam Hemsworth will pick up the mantle from season 4 onward.
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“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,” Cavill concluded.

It’s fair to say that the news has not gone down well with fans of The Witcher, with a petition to bring Cavill back being quickly assembled and acquiring thousands of signatures. The animosity has not been helped by reports claiming that the reason for Cavill’s retirement from the role of Geralt came as a result of the actor not “seeing eye to eye” with the producers.

Related: The Witcher: Why Fans Are So Unhappy About Henry Cavill’s Departure

The Witcher Star Joey Batey Heaps Praise of Liam Hemsworth & His Commitment to Geralt

Netflix

Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich is not the only one with no concerns about the recasting, with The Witcher star Joey Batey, who portrays the bard and a close friend of Geralt, Jaskier, in the series, heaping praise on Liam Hemsworth’s commitment to doing the character justice.

“I’m obviously gonna miss Henry a huge amount,” Batey tells us. “Henry and I are very, very good pals and he has been the stalwart of the show, the gravity of the show, and the driving force of the show for four years now. But Liam, I’ve already spoken to him a little bit. He is throwing himself into the deep end of this mythos and this canon with such power and grace and aplomb that I’m really excited to work with him and to see the kind of interpretation that he’s going to bring together. I think it’s exciting.”

The Witcher Season 3 will find the monster hunter falling upon a battlefield of political corruption, dark magic, and treachery. The Witcher Season 3 does not yet have a release date, but will once again debut on Netflix. The world of The Witcher will first return in the upcoming prequel miniseries, The Witcher: Blood Origin, which is due for release on December 25, 2022.