I Feel Sorry For Him: Liam Hemsworths The Witcher Geralt Recasting Backlash Addressed By Ciri Actor

The Witcher star Freya Allan responds to the backlash over Liam Hemsworth’s casting as Geralt in season 4. The show is based on the book series of the same name by Andrzej Sapkowski. It follows the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter on a mission to determine his destiny, and how Ciri (Allan), the girl whom he is linked to via the Law of Surprise, fits into it. Henry Cavill originated the role of Geralt and was a large part of why the show succeeded, leading to an outcry when news broke that Geralt was being recast.

In an interview with Collider, Allan addressed some of the backlash that Hemsworth received for his upcoming debut in The Witcher season 4. Allan revealed she feels sorry for Hemsworth, given that she believes he is truly trying to embody the role of Geralt through training and tackling the role with “heart.” She acknowledged that the show’s fanbase can be “attack-y” and that the whole recasting situation isn’t quite ideal. Check out her statement below:

I don’t want to speak for him, but from what I’ve understood, I feel like he’s really wanting to try and bring the heart. He’s been training. I feel sorry for him, honestly, because, number one, that fan base can be very attack-y, and it’s not an ideal situation to be in taking up someone else’s role. But I’m really excited to see what he does. And he’s such a lovely guy. I just hope that people give him the time of day, you know?

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Some of the disappointment over The Witcher‘s recasting is understandable. Cavill was phenomenal as Geralt, with many describing his role in the series as the perfect casting. Few can parallel his display of ferocity and brute strength as the monster hunter. Another difficult aspect to replicate is his dedication, as Cavill was a fan of the franchise before nabbing the role of Geralt and insisted on doing all of his own stunts. However, many have chosen to take out their frustrations on Hemsworth, which isn’t very reasonable.

Hemsworth’s replacement of Cavill in The Witcher stirred many strong reactions online. The show’s producers did little to help by insinuating Hemsworth’s Geralt would be a rebooted version (similar to how a new James Bond arrives every few years) instead of the original Geralt. Many are ignoring the fact that Cavill voluntarily left the show, and Hemsworth actually did viewers a favor by stepping into the role and allowing The Witcher to receive an adequate ending instead of cancelation. While everyone has questions about whether he can live up to expectations, many viewers aren’t even giving him a chance.

The backlash is especially odd as Hemsworth’s Witcher co-stars, from Allan to Joey Batey to Cavill himself, have all thrown their support behind the actor. Based on their statements, it sounds as if he is taking the job seriously and wants to prove he earned the role. Given his previous experience, he does hold a lot of potential as Geralt. However, the lingering backlash well over a year after The Witcher‘s recasting announcement raises concerns about whether Hemsworth excelling in the role would even be enough to win over viewers who remain closed off to his arrival.

Source: Collider

The Witcher

Based on the novels by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski and the video games, The Witcher follows the story of Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter who struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts. “Ciri” Cirilla is the Princess of Cintra, who has magical abilities and whose fate has been linked to Geralt’s. Yennefer of Vengerberg, a sorceress who trains to become a mage before deserting her duties and going solo, is also a main character in the Netflix series. The show’s storylines are intertwined but told throughout different timelines, all of which eventually catch up to Ciri’s, whose timeline of events is the most recent. Set on the Continent where men, monsters, and elves exist together, the characters all have separate journeys, though their destinies bring them into each others’ orbits.

Cast

Tom Canton , Maciej Musial , Björn Hlynur Haraldsson , Anna Shaffer , MyAnna Buring , Lars Mikkelsen , Royce Pierreson , Eamon Farren , Wilson Radjou-Pujalte , Joey Batey , Jodhi May , Therica Wilson-Read , Anya Chalotra , Mimi Ndiweni , Henry Cavill , Freya Allan , Adam Levy , Amit Shah , Liam Hemsworth , Laurence Fishburne

Release Date

December 20, 2019

Seasons

2

Franchise(s)

The Witcher

Writers

Lauren Schmidt Hissrich

Directors

Lauren Schmidt Hissrich

Showrunner

Lauren Schmidt Hissrich