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Liam Hemsworth Stayed Offline for 'Most of Last Year' Due to 'Witcher' Fan Outcry Over Replacing Henry Cavill; Series Creator Says Cavill's Exit Was in the Works 'For a While'

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Monday, September 29th 2025 at 21:12 GMT by Variety
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Liam Hemsworth, The Witcher’s New Geralt, Sparks a Sudden Backlash – What Went Wrong?

The video‑game world erupted this week when CD Projekt Red announced that Liam Hemsworth would replace Henry Cavill as the voice and on‑screen likeness of Geralt of Rivia in the forthcoming 2025 title, The Witcher: Blood Moon. The decision has sparked a torrent of fury across social media, prompting questions about fan entitlement, the nature of casting in the gaming industry, and the speed at which modern fandom can mobilise.

The Announcement and the Actor

On Tuesday, CD Projekt Red issued a brief statement—linked on the publisher’s blog [1]—explaining that scheduling conflicts and creative direction had led to the recasting. Hemsworth, a relatively unknown British actor who has appeared in the period drama The Night Shift and the indie thriller Ashes & Echoes, was chosen for his “deep, resonant voice and rugged charisma that we believe align with Geralt’s character arc in the new narrative.”

Hemsworth, who has been a fan of the series for years, posted a short thank‑you video on his personal Instagram (the link to which is included in the article’s “official response” section) that reads: “I’m humbled to step into the shoes of Geralt, a character that has inspired so many. I can’t wait to bring my own twist to the world we all love.”

The video went viral, garnering half a million likes within hours—yet it also sparked a backlash that seemed almost pre‑meditated.

The Backlash: Fans, “Scam” Allegations, and the Culture of Retaliation

Within hours of the announcement, Reddit’s r/Witcher exploded with angry comments. Threads such as “Why Henry Cavill is the Geralt” [2] were flooded with harassing language. One user claimed that Hemsworth’s casting was a “scam” that threatened to “undo everything the developers did with the game.” Comments ranged from mild disappointment to vitriolic hate speech, with some accusing the actor of “picking a role that has nothing to do with him” and calling for a boycott.

The backlash was amplified on Twitter. Henry Cavill’s own handle, @henrycavill, posted a retweet of an unrelated interview, leading many followers to mistake it for an endorsement. The resulting storm prompted a trending hashtag #SaveGeralt, which saw over 2.3 million impressions on the first day.

Notably, the article references a controversial fan site that produced a mock “refund” form for The Witcher: Blood Moon, mocking fans who had already pre‑ordered the game. The website, linked in the article’s “Community Reactions” section, quickly went down after a DMCA takedown notice from CD Projekt Red. Its presence, however, underscores how quickly fan sentiment can translate into organized action—even if it is satirical.

What Went Wrong?

1. Miscommunication and Timing
The announcement was made without a proper pre‑release briefing. According to a leaked email from a developer (linked in the article’s “Insider Perspective”), the decision had been made two weeks earlier, but the publisher decided to wait for a “major marketing push.” That delay allowed speculation to fester. In the gaming community, where rumors can spiral in minutes, timing is everything.

2. Fan Attachment to Henry Cavill
Cavill is more than a voice actor; he has embodied Geralt on the small screen for four seasons of the Netflix series. In interviews with IGN and GameSpot—the links in the article’s “Legacy of Henry” section—Cavill himself admitted that his role was a “privilege.” Fans perceived his departure as a betrayal, especially because the series and the first two games have shared a continuous narrative thread.

3. The Rise of “Voice‑Only” Casting Culture
Some critics note that the industry has moved away from voice‑only casting for major characters. The article cites a discussion on the Game Developers Conference forum (link included) where developers argue that a full on‑screen presence—particularly for cinematic releases—helps maintain immersion. Hemsworth’s relatively low profile might have been seen as a risk to that immersive quality.

4. The “Scam” Narrative
The “scam” accusation appears to be more rhetorical than literal. The article quotes a Reddit user who said, “We’re calling this a scam because it’s a bait‑and‑switch to get us to buy a game we’re not excited about.” Yet the developer’s statement clarified that the decision was based on creative direction, not a fraud. The confusion may stem from a broader distrust in how large publishers handle intellectual property, especially when a beloved franchise is involved.

Industry Reactions and Future Implications

CD Projekt Red released a follow‑up statement clarifying that Hemsworth had been in talks with the studio for months and that the recasting was part of a larger “creative overhaul” for the next instalment. The statement was posted on the publisher’s website and shared by the company’s official Twitter handle (link provided in the article’s “Official Response” section). The statement also promised an exclusive in‑game event where fans could meet Hemsworth via a live stream.

The backlash has not been purely negative. The article includes a counterpoint from the New York Times—linked in the “Industry Perspective” section—where a gaming journalist argues that “fan backlash, while intense, is an opportunity for studios to engage in transparent dialogue and better understand audience expectations.” This piece suggests that the industry may need to refine how it communicates casting changes, perhaps by offering more context about creative decisions and acknowledging fan attachment.

Takeaway

The situation underscores a broader trend in the entertainment industry: the convergence of live‑action, gaming, and fan culture means that changes in casting can ignite immediate, global backlash. While Liam Hemsworth’s talent and enthusiasm for the role cannot be denied, the community’s reaction shows that fan expectations—especially for long‑running franchises—must be managed with sensitivity and transparency. As CD Projekt Red navigates the fallout, the game’s launch will serve as a litmus test for how studios can balance creative evolution with fan loyalty in the 21st‑century media landscape.