Henry Cavill vs. Liam Hemsworth: 5 Major Differences in Their Witcher Performances

Henry Cavill stepping away from The Witcher after three seasons left fans nervous about the future of Geralt of Rivia. His replacement, Liam Hemsworth, arrived with far less fantasy experience and a very different acting style — leaving viewers curious whether he could carry such an iconic role.

Season 4 reviews haven’t been great overall, but Hemsworth’s take on Geralt has earned surprising praise. While the story and pacing struggled, many agree that Liam delivered a worthy and committed performance, proving he wasn’t a miscast successor.

Cavill announced his exit in 2022, revealing he would be retiring his medallion and swords. Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich later explained that his departure was tied to other professional commitments. Instead of ending the series, production chose to keep the world alive with a new lead.

Here are five key differences between Cavill’s and Hemsworth’s portrayals of the White Wolf.

Henry Cavill vs. Liam Hemsworth 5 Major Differences in Their Witcher Performances

5. Cavill’s Geralt Is Darker and More Emotionally Closed Off

Henry Cavill’s version of Geralt is tense, brooding, and perpetually on edge — a witcher shaped by trauma and hardened by years of violence. His performance radiates a cold, controlled intensity that fits the character’s painful past, especially his difficult childhood and harsh training.

In contrast, Liam Hemsworth brings a more grounded, lighter touch. His Geralt is approachable and emotionally warmer, showing his humanity more freely. Part of this shift comes from Hemsworth’s interpretation; he avoids some of the character’s stranger, more tortured qualities and instead plays Geralt as a man who has found small pockets of peace.

It’s different, but surprisingly effective.

4. Hemsworth’s Geralt Is More Visually Impressive in Battle

Cavill delivered memorable action scenes throughout seasons 1–3, but his storylines emphasized drama more than spectacle. His Geralt balanced ferocity with thoughtful restraint.

Hemsworth’s debut takes a different route. Season 4 leans heavily into action, giving Geralt longer, more elaborate fight sequences that showcase agility, precision, and physical coordination. These scenes appear crafted specifically to prove that Hemsworth can match — and sometimes surpass — Cavill’s physical combat presence.

The results are spectacular, especially the climactic battle in the finale.

3. Cavill’s Geralt Feels More Physically Dominant

Even though Hemsworth is technically taller, Henry Cavill has the more imposing physique. Years of strict training for roles like Superman made Cavill’s body almost tailor-made for fantasy heroes, capturing the rugged strength expected of a monster slayer.

Hemsworth, though athletic, doesn’t have the same muscular build, giving his Geralt a less bulky silhouette. While it doesn’t affect performance, it does create a visual difference fans immediately notice — especially in a genre where heroes are often portrayed as towering, heavily built warriors.

Though it’s too late to change for Season 5 (which has already wrapped filming), bulking up is always an option for future fantasy roles.

2. Hemsworth’s Geralt Shares the Spotlight More

In the first three seasons, Cavill was the clear center of the show. His star power and popularity ensured Geralt dominated most episodes.

Season 4 shifts the narrative structure. Geralt now splits screen time with:

• Yennefer, on a mission to unite the mages

• Ciri, who abandons her magic, takes the name Falka, and joins The Rats

• Regis, played by Laurence Fishburne, whose presence adds another compelling storyline

This balance helps take pressure off Hemsworth and gives the world of The Witcher more room to grow. It also prevents constant comparisons to Cavill by letting other characters drive major plot threads.

1. Hemsworth’s Geralt Has Less Consistent Accents

The biggest technical difference? Vocal delivery.

Hemsworth’s Geralt shifts accents several times in the first episode alone — a detail viewers quickly noticed. Cavill, on the other hand, maintained a steady, gravelly witcher tone through all three seasons.

Part of the issue is that Hemsworth attempts to mimic Cavill’s famously deep, gritty voice, which is difficult to replicate perfectly. Yet if he had used his natural voice, he would have faced a different wave of criticism. It’s a lose-lose situation.

Hopefully, with more vocal coaching, Season 5 will give Hemsworth a more settled and consistent sound. But if it changes too much, fans may wonder why Geralt suddenly sounds like a different person again.