Henry Cavill to play Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’s The Witcher

Man of Steel star and divisive mustache-haver Henry Cavill has landed the lead role in Netflix’s new eight-part fantasy series, based on Andrezej Sapkowski’s The Witcher fantasy novels. Cavill will play the powerful and pale Geralt of Rivia.

Both Netflix and Cavill confirmed the casting on social media this morning. “My new mailing address is: Geralt, C/O Vesemir, Kaer Morhen, Kaer Morhen Valley, Hertch, Kaedwen,” Cavill posted on Instagram. “Please note, I’m rarely there. Monster slaying being what it is. So, replies will be few and far between, if at all.”

It’s a role Cavill’s been gunning for. In August, Cavill told IGN he’d just finished playing The Witcher 3, adapted from the book series, and that he’d “absolutely” like to play Geralt in the Netflix version. Shortly after, he posted a few fan mock-ups of himself as Geralt on Instagram.

Polish writer Sapkowski has built out a rich fantasy world in the books, of which there are many. The books were originally written in Polish but have since been translated into many different languages since the games have increased in popularity.

Netflix announced its Witcher show in May 2017 with The West Wing’s Lauren S. Hirssrich as showrunner. The series centers on Geralt, a masterful monster hunter (or witcher) and swordsman that travels the land to protect its people. Three games have been adapted from the novels, with a fourth, Gwent: The Witcher Card Game, created as an extension of The Witcher’s in-game card game.

There are few other details regarding the Netflix series at this time.

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Nicole Carpenter

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