Netflix's decision to replace Henry Cavill with Liam Hemsworth in the lead role of The Witcher has caused a heated reaction online. Fans are divided: some are demanding Cavill's return, while others are more relaxed about the changes. But it's worth looking at the situation from another angle: perhaps this replacement is capable of giving the series the necessary impetus that it lacked after the second season.
Cavill's Geralt is cool, but it's not dogma
There is no doubt that Cavill made a great Geralt. He didn't just wear a white wig, he lived this image, respected Sapkowski's books and video games, knew the lore, invested in details. His Geralt was recognizable, charismatic, physically convincing. But he is not the first visual image of the Witcher.
Before the series, there were books, art, games, and in each of them, the White Wolf looked different. Cavill set the bar, but that does not mean that the bar cannot be intercepted and developed. We have already seen actors change in major franchises — from Game of Thrones to James Bond. Sometimes it was only for the good.
Liam Hemsworth has everything to become the new Geralt
Yes, Liam Hemsworth is not an obvious choice. But it is definitely not accidental. The actor has participated in major projects: The Hunger Games, The Expendables 2. He knows how to play within the framework of large-scale franchises, fit into the team and withstand serious physical exertion.
A change of actor will give a chance to bring freshness to the image of the Witcher — without crossing out what has been worked out. Hemsworth can build up the dramatic layer of the character, strengthen the romantic or dark line, change the tone. In the context of a multi-season series, where the plot is only halfway through, such a restructuring can revive the project and give it a second wind.
The series has time to warm up
Netflix has already announced that it plans seven seasons. This means that Liam Hemsworth will have room to grow. Changing actors is not always a disaster. Sometimes it’s an opportunity. And if The Witcher doesn’t want to stagnate in the swamp of its own decisions, such a shake-up may be the only right decision.
