Freya Allan Nearly Exited The Witcher Alongside Henry Cavill
Freya Allan, known for her role as Ciri, opens up about a difficult period during the production of Netflix's hit series. The departure of a key cast member almost led her to make a career-altering decision that would have changed the show forever.
For eight years and four seasons, Freya Allan has brought the character of Ciri to life in the Netflix version of The Witcher, with just one final season remaining. But the show almost needed to recast its princess for seasons 4 and 5. Allan admitted to NME that she spent a "solid amount of time" thinking about walking away from the series with Henry Cavill, the original Geralt, after season 3. Liam Hemsworth has since stepped into the role for the fourth and upcoming fifth seasons.
"Season 3 was a really difficult season for everyone. I cried because I wanted to finish the show with the guy that played my adoptive father," Allan shared. "For the first time, I was seeing what life away from The Witcher could look like and then the lead moves on… It was very weird. He's the Geralt I grew up with."
Cavill's exit was a jolt not only for the fanbase but for the cast as well. Allan explained she found out he was leaving just a day before the news became public. Speculation has swirled that Cavill left to reprise his role as Superman before James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios, which ultimately led to David Corenswet being cast as the new Man of Steel. Another rumor pointed to creative disagreements between Cavill and the shows producers regarding Geralt's portrayal.
After deciding to continue as Ciri, Allan said she "made the most of every moment." She even took up Cavill's mantle as a strong advocate for staying true to The Witcher's source material, particularly the original books by Andrzej Sapkowski. "I really want to give fans what they want," she stated. "I'd also seen Henry, who was so knowledgeable and loyal to the books, push for certain lines to be included. When he left, I was inspired to take on that role."
The fourth season of The Witcher is currently available on Netflix, though a release date for the fifth season has not yet been announced.