Liam Hemsworth Breaks Silence On His Reaction To Replacing Henry Cavill In 'The Witcher': 'I Jumped Off Social Media'

After almost two years of succeeding Henry Cavill’s role on “The Witcher,” Liam Hemsworth has finally put words to his reaction to stepping into the shoes of Geralt of Rivia.

The Hollywood star didn’t hold back on how he has managed the weight of comparison while filling Cavill’s shoes.

In the same breath, Hemsworth has something else to celebrate, as wedding bells are ringing for him and his longtime girlfriend, Gabriella Brooks.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hemsworth shared more details about what it has been like taking up the mantle for the final seasons 4 and 5 of “The Witcher.”

“There was quite a bit of noise, and I had to put that aside. It started to become a distraction,” the “Hunger Games” alum recalled about the internet's reaction to the news. Revealing how he dealt with it, Hemsworth said:

“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. I jumped off social media and the internet most of last year.”

Lauren Hissrich, the showrunner of "The Witcher," revealed to the publication that Hemsworth had been considered from the very beginning, particularly as a longtime fan of the series, which he loves thanks to the video games.

Hence, it was no surprise when Hissrich confirmed, “His name has been out there for a very long time.” Even so, Hemsworth admitted the casting felt sudden to him, saying, “It came out of nowhere,” and confessing that he was just as surprised as everyone else.

Taking on such a significant role meant Hemsworth had to find his balance. The Hollywood star admitted he wanted to stay true to himself rather than copying his predecessor, Cavill.

“I wanted it to be truthful to me and feel like my version of the character,” he explained to the publication.

Still, he couldn’t escape comparisons. The pressure lingered in his mind, making him feel he had to become physically bigger than usual to match Cavill's physique, despite being 6 feet 3 inches tall. In his words:

"Initially, for this, I felt this pressure or this need that I had to put on a bunch of size and be really big. I'm naturally a tall person anyway, but I did feel this comparison thing popping around in your head.”

As a result, the Australian star intensified gym efforts despite recovering from a knee and shoulder injury at the time.

Nevertheless, Hemsworth doesn't believe there won't be any comparison among fans. Instead, his focus now is on carving his own path and telling stories in his own way.

While Hemsworth is only now opening up about his reaction to the casting, the news first broke in 2022, when Cavill announced his departure on social media.

As reported by The Blast, the 39-year-old actor made an emotional Instagram post, detailing that he "will be laying down my medallion and my swords for Season 4.”

Effectively passing on the mantle to Hemsworth, Cavill assured fans in his caption that his replacement is more than capable.

"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,” he wrote.

Following Cavill’s announcement, Hemsworth also took to Instagram to express his excitement about joining the series.

“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 honored that he's handing me the reins," he gushed.

Acknowledging the challenge ahead, he expressed his adoration for his predecessor before adding, "I may have some big boots to fill..."

While adjusting to his demanding new role, Hemsworth has also celebrated a personal milestone – his engagement to Brooks.

As reported by The Blast, the couple confirmed the news on Instagram earlier this month.

Brooks shared a three-slide carousel post showcasing her dazzling ring, a huge princess-cut diamond set on an elegant gold band with delicate gold detailing along the edges.

This engagement comes nearly four years after they publicly acknowledged their relationship, marking yet another exciting new chapter in Hemsworth’s life.