Liam Hemsworth reveals social media break after Henry Cavill replacement backlash

Actor Liam Hemsworth has revealed he deliberately stepped away from social media platforms for most of 2024 after facing intense fan backlash over his casting as Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’s hit fantasy series The Witcher. The Australian actor will replace Henry Cavill in the iconic role beginning with Season 4, which premieres October 30, 2025.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Hemsworth candidly addressed the overwhelming online reaction that followed Netflix’s announcement of his casting in October 2022. “There was quite a bit of noise and I had to put that aside. It started to become a distraction,” Hemsworth explained about the fan response to his recasting.

The 35-year-old Hunger Games star acknowledged that dealing with public scrutiny was not unfamiliar territory for him. However, the intensity of The Witcher fanbase’s reaction prompted him to take drastic measures to protect his creative focus. “I dealt with that sort of thing in the past a lot and, you know, at the end of the day, I love making movies and I love telling stories and acting. I just don’t want any of that to affect my way of telling the story that I’m trying to tell,” he stated.

The decision to disconnect from digital platforms was both strategic and necessary for Hemsworth’s preparation process. “I jumped off social media and the internet most of last year,” he revealed, demonstrating his commitment to approaching the role without external distractions.

Henry Cavill, who portrayed Geralt for three successful seasons, announced his departure from The Witcher in 2022, citing other career commitments. Series creator and showrunner Lauren Hissrich told Entertainment Weekly that discussions about Cavill’s exit had been ongoing behind the scenes. “He had plans for other roles that he really wanted to commit himself to,” Hissrich explained, emphasizing that the decision was mutually beneficial for both parties.

Despite the initial fan resistance, Hemsworth has received support from his co-stars. Freya Allan, who plays Ciri in the series, previously defended the new casting choice. Speaking to Collider, she expressed hope that fans would “give him the time of day” after witnessing the online criticism directed at Hemsworth.

The transition between lead actors represents a significant moment for The Witcher franchise, which has become one of Netflix’s most popular original series. Hemsworth acknowledged his predecessor’s impact on the show, stating that he is “a massive fan of Henry’s, and I’m a fan of what he did in the show.”

By maintaining distance from social media commentary, Hemsworth was able to immerse himself fully in preparing for the demanding role of the White Wolf. This approach allowed him to focus on character development and story preparation without the constant noise of online opinions influencing his creative process.

The upcoming fourth season of The Witcher will mark the beginning of Hemsworth’s tenure as Geralt, with Netflix having already renewed the series for a fifth and final season. Fans will finally have the opportunity to evaluate Hemsworth’s interpretation of the beloved character when Season 4 launches on Netflix this October.