Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher and the most charismatic Superman in the DC universe, Henry Cavill, has been in the spotlight lately with news that broke the hearts of his fans. While the actor’s fans were thrilled when they heard that he’d be returning as Superman in the next DC movie, they were devastated when they learned that the actor was exiting The Witcher.
Will Henry Cavill Play Superman in DC Universe?
No, unfortunately, Henry Cavill won’t be playing Superman in the DC Universe. Although it was already announced that the British actor will return to the big screen with a new film, he announced on December 14 that he’ll not play Superman. Cavill said, “I will, after all, not be returning as Superman. After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October prior to their hire, this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life.” He also thanked his fans for always being on his side and mentioned what Superman stands for and how he’s a role model for people.
The co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios, James Gunn and Peter Safran, told the actor that they have changed their minds about the character. Gunn is currently working on a new film about Superman that will focus on the hero’s younger years. Therefore, they decided that the character should be played by an actor younger than the 39-year-old Cavill.
Gunn announced the news on his Twitter account, saying, “Peter & I have a DC slate ready to go, which we couldn’t be more over-the-moon about; we’ll be able to share some exciting information about our first projects at the beginning of the new year.”
Talented actor Henry Cavill first played Superman in Zack Snyder’s 2013 film Man of Steel and reprised his role in the two sequels: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016 and Justice League in 2017. Cavill also made a cameo appearance in The Flash, one of four DC films scheduled to hit theaters in 2023, but sources say that cameo appearance will now be canceled.
Also read: Henry Cavill’s Life Story Explained – How the Witcher Actor Became A Hollywood Star?
Why Henry Cavill Dropped Out of The Witcher?
On October 29, 2022, Netflix announced that Season 4 of The Witcher is coming, but there will be a big difference in the series’ cast. The streaming platform told fans of the series that “Henry Cavill will be handing his swords to Liam Hemsworth as the new Geralt of Rivia after Season 3.”
Hemsworth, a 32-year-old Australian actor, is best known for his role as Gale Hawthorne in The Hunger Games trilogy. The actor said of his involvement in the cast of The Witcher Season 4: “Henry Cavill has been an incredible Geralt, and I’m honoured that he’s handing me the reins to me and allowing me to take up the White Wolf blades for the next chapter of his adventure.”
It’s official: The Witcher is returning for Season 4, and Henry Cavill will be handing his swords to Liam Hemsworth as the new Geralt of Rivia after Season 3. Welcome to the Witcher family, @LiamHemsworth!
Read more: https://t.co/ABQMdqkzXX pic.twitter.com/xyIaRBbiRT
— The Witcher (@witchernetflix) October 29, 2022
But why did Henry Cavill drop out of The Witcher? According to sources, Cavill had signed a short-term contract for The Witcher and felt it was time to move on after three seasons of the series, which is being shot overseas and has a demanding production schedule.
He said, “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.”
Some have claimed that Cavill left his role in The Witcher because of Superman, but there isn’t enough evidence for that. As of now, the actor has terminated his contract with the Netflix series and his role as Man of Steel will be taken over by another actor. Although Cavill catapulted his career with his roles as Superman and Geralt of Rivia, the actor has so far starred in several notable films, including Mission: Impossible – Fallout and Enola Holmes and its sequel.
What Will Happen to Henry Cavill Next?
As Cavill plans to take a new path in his career, the upcoming spy action film The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare has just been announced, in which he’ll star alongside Eiza González. He’ll play the leader of the secret combat organization in the film directed by Guy Ritchie.
Also read: All Henry Cavill Performances Ranked From Best to Worst!