The Witcher’s Anya Chalotra addresses rumors behind Henry Cavill’s Geralt exit

An image from The Witcher season 3
(Image credit: Netflix)

The Witcher’s Yennefer star Anya Chalotra has shared some new insight into Henry Cavill’s exit from the Netflix fantasy show. Late last year, the actor announced he’ll no longer be playing Geralt of Rivia after season 3 and the role will be recast with The Hunger Games star Liam Hemsworth in it.

Cavill shared a statement thanking fans for their support but hasn’t ever addressed an exact reason for his departure. 

However, since the news was announced, speculation has been rife that maybe it was down to a disagreement with showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich. Some suggested the pair clashed on how faithful the series was to Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels.

Now, Chalotra has dismissed the rumor in a new interview with The Telegraph. The actor shook her head when asked about the misalignment between Hissrich’s and Cavill’s views on the adaptation, responding: "When we are all on set, we’re dedicated to playing these characters and bringing them to life in the best way. And that is exactly what I felt every day from Henry."

Cavill still hasn’t spoken openly about his exit from the show, and only appeared at a few events to promote the recent third season. Chalotra also shared that he only announced he was leaving after filming wrapped on season 3, meaning they didn’t have an on-set send-off for the actor.

Saying it’s been tough since, Chalotra added: "That news was hard to take because he’s family. We’ve been together for five years. So for anyone to leave after working with someone for that long, we’re going to feel that loss."

Speaking to GamesRadar+, Chalotra and her co-stars Joey Batey and Freya Allan shared some insight into incoming Geralt Liam Hemsworth. When asked if they’ve spoken to him yet, Chalotra said: "Yes, just through email, a message of support when the news came out," before adding: "I can’t wait to meet him."

For more on The Witcher season 3, check out our in-depth guides to:

Fay Watson
Deputy Entertainment Editor

I’m the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for the Total Film and SFX sections online. I previously worked as a Senior Showbiz Reporter and SEO TV reporter at Express Online for three years. I've also written for The Resident magazines and Amateur Photographer, before specializing in entertainment.

Read more
Liam Hemsworth as Geralt in The Witcher season 4
Ahead of Liam Hemsworth's Witcher debut, game actor Doug Cockle explains the most important quality for playing Geralt – and it's something Henry Cavill already achieved
Liam Hemsworth as Geralt in The Witcher season 4
The Witcher season 4: release date speculation, cast, news and more
Essi and Geralt in The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep
The Witcher writers tease Geralt's "blonde, bubbly" new love interest in Netflix's Sirens of the Deep anime: "[She] makes more sense than Yen"
Geralt of Rivia in Netflix's The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep
The Witcher's new Netflix anime film didn't want to mess with a good thing and just asked Doug Cockle to play his Geralt exactly how he is in the games
The Witcher Sirens of the Deep
New trailer drops for The Witcher anime movie revealing returning stars from the live action Netflix series
The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep
The upcoming The Witcher anime movie features a new version of a scene cut from Henry Cavill's first season
Latest in Fantasy Shows
Kratos in God of War Ragnarök
God of War TV show writer reveals Amazon has already ordered two seasons, and that he can’t play the video games at all
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Percy Jackson series gets unusually early renewal for season 3 before upcoming season 2 even airs
George R.R. Martin
Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin has a new update on The Winds of Winter: "I wish it would come faster"
Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg and Peter Claffey as Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
HBO boss says new Game of Thrones spin-off's battles "match" the mainline series at a "fraction of the price"
Abubakar Salim in House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon season 3's opening battle is "beastly", according to one of the show's stars
Jamie Campbell Bower in Stranger Things
The Rings of Power newcomer Jamie Campbell Bower has 'revealed' his season 3 character – but it could be a Sauron-style misdirect
Latest in News
Yasuke looking over the water to a shrine during sunset in Assassin's Creed Shadows
Assassin's Creed Shadows has an entire island stuffed with adorable kittens you need to check out, and it's based on an actual Japanese cat paradise
phase zero key art showing zombies in a hallway
Former Witcher 3 and Dying Light devs reveal their Resident Evil homage, complete with PS1-style fixed cameras
Shadow of Mordor's Nemesis System was only created because WB Games wanted something to combat Batman Arkham Asylum's second-hand sales, exec says
First-person screenshot from ASYLUM, showing the protagonist's hand holding up a notebook while walking through a dark corridor.
After 15 years and a $120,000 Kickstarter push, this cult horror dev has finally released a successor to their 2006 breakout game
screenshot from Rogue Light Deck Builder showing a claymation figure sitting behind a desk.
With 97% positive reviews on Steam, Rogue Light Deck Builder is a hilarious $3 parody game that takes its name very literally
Lady Dimitrescu and Austin Abrams
The new Resident Evil movie may have found a lead in a Euphoria star