Henry Cavill joins Netflix’s Witcher show as Geralt

Superman and Mission Impossible actor Henry Cavill has been cast in Netflix’s adaptation of the Witcher, it has been announced, with the Brit taking on the titular role as Geralt of Rivia.

The series is yet to begin filming and no confirmed release date has emerged, but knowing Netflix it’ll probably be done and out there within the next 23 minutes or so.

Nothing has been confirmed about Cavill’s facial hair for the project, though we assume to take on the role of Geralt he’ll be expected to rock a beard every now and then. Just don’t mention the three-million-dollar moustache.

Directors Alik Sakharov (House of Cards, Game of Thrones), Alex Garcia Lopez (Luke Cage, Utopia), and Charlotte Brändström (Outlander, Counterpart, Disparue) will take on directing duties for the series, with eight episodes to be made for the initial season. Showrunner/executive producer Lauren Schmidt Hissrich (Daredevil, The Defenders, Umbrella Academy) will oversee the project.

As the Netflix blurb puts it: “Based on the best-selling fantasy series, The Witcher is an epic tale of fate and family. Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts. But when destiny hurtles him toward a powerful sorceress, and a young princess with a dangerous secret, the three must learn to navigate the increasingly volatile Continent together.”

The Netflix adaptation of the game and novels has series creator/author Andrzej Sapkowski on-board as creative consultant, though no other on-screen roles have been cast as of yet. Claudia Black for Yennefer please and thank you.

As one of those fine asides we like to throw out there: the last – and only – time Henry Cavill was mentioned here on MCV was back in 2013 when a Man of Steel skin came to Injustice: Gods Among Us. The original, that is, not the sequel. The more you know.