Henry Cavill stormed into the world of superheroes with his gritty and edgy version of Superman in Zack Snyder’s Man Of Steel. The British star whose portrayal of the celebrated DC icon was lauded by audiences and critics, is still considered one of the best casting choices among the many actors who have played Superman.
Cavill’s effort saw him play many prominent characters in the following years which included a marquee role in the fantasy web series, The Witcher. The star played the protagonist Geralt of Rivia, a magically enhanced monster-hunter who possesses supernatural abilities due to his mutations. Cavill though is not the first actor to have portrayed the character.
Before Henry Cavill, Polish star Michał Żebrowski Played Geralt of Rivia
Based on the series of short stories and novels by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher on Netflix became one of the most watched series along with augmenting the stardom of Henry Cavill after his iconic stint as Superman. Interestingly, Cavill is not the first actor to play the protagonist Geralt of Rivia. Before The Witcher took shape, the role was first taken up by Polish actor Michał Żebrowski in a Polish film called The Hexer way back in 2001.
Żebrowski, who is an award-winning actor in Poland, was highly appreciated for his powerful performance as Geralt of Rivia in the film which then prompted the makers to create a 13-episode television series in 2002 with the actor. According to sources, the narrative while telling the same story as the 2019 Netflix series The Witcher, elaborated on the different aspects of the script in greater detail. Żebrowski also got to have a full circle moment with his character when he was chosen to dub for Henry Cavill for the Polish version of The Witcher.
Can Liam Hemsworth Fill Henry Cavill’s Big Shoes in The Witcher?
Following the big news that Henry Cavill will no longer be a part of The Witcher after Season 3, it was announced that the role of Geralt of Rivia which Cavill made his own, will be played by Liam Hemsworth. Cavill formally confirmed this news while also wishing his successor well through a beautifully penned note.
“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.”
Over the seasons, Henry Cavill has embodied the charisma and commanding personality of his character Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher and his performance has been received positively by fans and critics. While Liam Hemsworth has big shoes to fill, it remains to be seen if the writers will work on a completely different trajectory for the character in Season 4.
The Witcher Seasons 1 and 2 are streaming on Netflix while Season 3 Vol 1 will premiere on June 29th, 2023.
Source: Inspired Traveller
