Tomek Bagiński thinks The Witcher stands alongside Superman, Batman, and James Bond in terms of pop culture influence, highlighting the decisions which come with that territory.
Polish outlet Wyborcza asked whether Bagiński and the crew felt anything when Henry Cavill quit as Geralt of Rivia. "After shooting Season 3, I took my first vacation in four years and cut myself off. I found out about the case a few days before the official announcement," Bagiński says. "I do not want to go into the reasons for this decision, because I learned about many things after the fact."
"Henry was a fantastic Geralt, but in the history of pop culture we have many actors who played the same character, and the character itself changed," he continued. "I am most pleased that the series was created and became so popular. The Witcher has already reached the level of Batman, Superman and James Bond. Maybe we hoped to see him in a new version only in a few years, but it happened now. And that's nothing new for iconic pop culture heroes."
Bagiński has made similar comments before. That includes saying, in part, "Bond and Batman discover something new and interesting with each change of appearance. We have the time. Geralt is in the same league." Known for his candor, Bagiński often highlights how Geralt is bigger than any sole actor, leaving many fans to question his judgment given the prevailing view that no one is more faithful to Geralt than Cavill.
The circumstances behind Cavill's recasting have proven hard to come by despite the very visible split. Both sides have maintained relative silence on the reasons, but prior to leaving Cavill had already voiced concerns. "The toughest part for me was finding that balance between the showrunners’ vision and my love for the books, and trying to bring that Geralt to the showrunners' vision," he had said. "All of my asks and requests were along the lines of just being faithful to the source material."
Bagiński's words reflect the long-term plan for The Witcher in light of Geralt's popularity, but they also confirm that Cavill leaving this early wasn't the plan. Given Cavill's words, "mean-spirited" and pervasive rumors about a bad culture in the writer's room, and showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich's revealing that Cavill often pushed for changes to Geralt's character, Cavill's difference in opinion is well-documented. Bagiński's assertion that he didn't want to go into the reasons for Cavill's exit might therefore indicate that there might have been more than just creative differences which led to a departure.
Will The Witcher Reach Season 5 With Liam Hemsworth?
The Witcher began in 2019 and has released three seasons, each in 2-year intervals. Bagiński's initial hopes that he "hoped to see him [Cavill] in a new version only in a few years" suggest that there were plans for beyond Season 5. It's unclear how these comments bode in light of unconfirmed reports that The Witcher may not last that long.
The Witcher is available to stream via Netflix.
Source: Wyborcza