Everyone was shocked late in 2022 when we learned that Henry Cavill was leaving The Witcher. To this day no one knows exactly why he did it. Cavill wasn’t only the star of Netflix’s fantasy saga; he was the best thing about the show. Who could replace him? Who could wear a white wig as regally? Who could scowl “f*ck” as nobly?
As it ends up, Liam Hemsworth could. The youngest and second most talented Hemsworth brother is best known for playing the role of Gale Hawthorne, aka the guy Katniss doesn’t end up with, in The Hunger Games movies. And as of The Witcher season 4, he will take up Geralt’s two swords. He’s set to play Geralt for the show’s fifth and final season, as well.
Cavill will still play Geralt in the third season of The Witcher, which is coming out on Netflix this summer. Until then, we got to thinking about other roles Hemsworth could poach from out from under the people who used to play them. The world is full of possibilities! Here are some:
Liam Hemsworth as…Superman
This is the most obvious and hilarious option. Henry Cavill played Clark Kent on the big screen for nearly a decade, starting with Man of Steel in 2013 and appearing one last time in last year’s Black Adam.
And that’s it. There was some confusion over whether Cavill’s Black Adam’s cameo meant that he was back in the blue tights for good or whether it was just a one-off thing…it was just a one-off thing, despite the best efforts of the Rock. James Gunn and Peter Safran are now in charge of DC Studios, and they’ve announced plans for a new Superman movie starring a younger Clark Kent.
And at 33, Liam Hensworth is younger than the 39-year-old Henry Cavill, so in theory, he could fill in. After what happened with The Witcher, that would be very, very funny, not that we expect it to actually happen. Gunn would have an army of stans at his front door. For another, Hemsworth is already busy filling Cavill’s other iconic role.
Liam Hemsworth as…Halbrand in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Let’s pivot from The Witcher and look at another high fantasy show: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The first season introduced us to Halbrand, a wayward warrior from the Southlands. Towards the end of the season, we learn that he is in fact (SPOILER INCOMING) Sauron, the future dark lord of all Middle-earth (and currently the semi-reformed personal assistant to Morgoth, the former dark lord of all Middle-earth).
Charlie Vickers did a good job with the job with the role, but overall this show kind of came and went without making much of a dent. Maybe people would be more interested if they tuned in for season 2 and suddenly Sauron was played by Geralt of Rivia? And also maybe Superman?
We’re certainly filling up this guy’s dance card.
Liam Hemsworth as…Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon
Part of me thinks that Hemsworth could take over as Halbrand on The Rings of Power and not many people would notice. But fans would definitely pay attention if House of the Dragon returned for its second season and the charmingly, brutal, amoral Daemon Targaryen was suddenly played by Chris Hemsworth’s baby brother.
Would Hemsworth bring the same fire to the role that Matt Smith does? The same dark glee? The same twisted allure? I don’t know, but if Matt Smith ever walks off set and vows never to come back, the folks at HBO know who to call.
Liam Hemsworth as…Batman
Robert Pattinson is playing Batman in The Batman. Gunn and Safran are casting someone new to play Bruce Wayne in another, different Batman movie called The Brave and the Bold. For all we know, another Batman will show up in the new Joker movie coming out next year.
And who’s to say it’ll stop there? Batmen are bursting out all over! If DC Studios keeps going at this rate, they’ll run out of eligible actors to play various versions of the Caped Crusader. And why shouldn’t Liam Hemsworth be somewhere among their number? Hell, cast Henry Cavill as a different Batman and see who does it better.
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