Earlier today, Henry Cavill revealed that his return to DC's Superman will no longer happen. After meeting with new DC heads, James Gunn and Peter Safran, Cavill turned to Instagram to break the bad news to fans awaiting his superhero comeback.
As it turns out, Gunn and Safran are mapping out an entirely new DC universe from scratch. Gunn is writing a new Superman movie that reboots everything-- including a different actor who will play the role.
Now that Cavill's got a lot of free time on his hands, many can't help but wonder if he can still return to play the role of Geralt of Rivia in Netflix's live-adaptation of the book/video game, The Witcher. It's quite interesting to note that Cavill actually left the project after three seasons to free up his schedule for Superman. And now that it has been canceled, many are wondering if there's a possibility he can still reclaim the role.
Can Henry Cavill Still Return to The Witcher After His Superman Cancelation?
First things first, The Witcher has already cast Liam Hemsworth as Cavill's replacement. When Cavill announced his departure from The Witcher, he left behind some encouraging words to the young actor:
“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.
In my stead, the fantastic Mr Liam Hemsworth will be taking up the mantle of the White Wolf. 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."
Hemsworth responded to the message by saying:
“As a Witcher fan I’m over the moon about the opportunity to play Geralt of Rivia. Henry Cavill has been an incredible Geralt, and I’m honoured that he’s handing me the reins and allowing me to take up the White Wolf’s blades for the next chapter of his adventure. Henry, I’ve been a fan of yours for years and was inspired by what you brought to this beloved character. I may have some big boots to fill, but I’m truly excited to be stepping into The Witcher world.”
To say the least, it would be pretty awkward for Cavill to take back those words if he decides to ask for his Geralt of Rivia role back.
Will Netflix Cut Its Losses and Ask Henry Cavill to Return to The Witcher?
Despite showing his support for Hemsworth, Cavill's fans have threatened to boycott The Witcher.
Not to mention, The Witcher showrunner, Lauren Hissrich, recently spoke to TechRadar and pleaded with fans to support Hemsworth's The Witcher:
"It's a big deal for us, too. And that's the thing – there's a lot of talk and rumors about and we fully understand why fans are going there. What I will say is please come back for The Witcher season three so that we can continue to do this. Obviously, that [Cavill's departure] is huge news. But what I don't want to do is – this has to stay about Blood Origin, Declan [de Barra, Blood Origin's showrunner], the cast, and the crew. This is their time in the spotlight."
It'll be hard for Netflix to make a decision since they've already signed a contract with Hemsworth. The only way we see Netflix bringing back Cavill as Geralt is to pay off Hemsworth's contract and *beg* Cavill to return. But it will be up to Netflix to make this decision after it crunches its numbers and discusses any possible lawsuits it may want to avoid.
And even if Netflix decides to do so, it would be disrespectful and embarrassing for Hemsworth, who does not deserve to be put in this position in the first place. It will be up to Hemsworth to decide if he gives in to the request of the fans and step down from the role.
But Why Did Henry Cavill Leave The Witcher?
As mentioned, Cavill is said to have left The Witcher to clear his schedule for Superman. But there have also been reports that this isn't the real reason behind his departure.
Cavill has reportedly been having creative differences with the showrunners. The reports say that the showrunners have continuously ignored the source material, which Cavill is well-knowledgable of. Meanwhile, Cavill is pushing for a more book-accurate presentation of the series.
Hopefully, both camps will be able to come up with a compromise and a fruitful decision will be made whether or not that involves bringing back Cavill for the role.
RELATED: Henry Cavill’s Return as Superman Has Been Cancelled
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