Cavill vs Hemsworth: Which Witcher?

A changing of the guards is coming for Netflix’s hit fantasy show, with Liam Hemsworth set to replace Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia. How do these Hollywood heartthrobs stack up against one another on some of Ranker’s most popular lists?

Acting in a television series is often a years-long commitment, which means that TV producers must be prepared to respond when actors walk away. From sitcoms like Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to epic dramas like Game of Thrones, there’s plenty of precedent for series to replace the actors playing recurring or even regular roles. But The Witcher, Netflix’s adaptation of the popular fantasy series, is going to do something more or less unheard of even in the fickle world of television: replace its lead actor of four years.

British actor Henry Cavill has come to embody Geralt of Rivia, the show’s titular monster hunter, but as sorely as Cavill will be missed, The Witcher’s showrunner is excited to reintroduce the character with replacement star Liam Hemsworth in Seasons 4 and 5. Like Cavill, perhaps best known for playing Superman in the DC film universe, Hemsworth has some fantasy franchise cred of his own, having played a major role in the Hunger Games movies. So how do these two A-listers compare in the minds of American pop culture fans? With thousands of lists on actors and celebrities, Ranker is the perfect place to find out.

We took a look at some of the lists that Henry Cavill and Liam Hemsworth share to find out who comes out on top in categories covering everything from looks, to acting skills, to who would be more fun to get a beer with. Let’s dive into the results.

Who Should Be the Next James Bond?

Our list of The Top Casting Choices For The Next James Bond Actor (490K votes) was first published back in 2016, but with no official announcement as to who will replace Daniel Craig after 2021’s No Time to Die, it’s as relevant as ever. Both past and future Geralts feature on the list, as Hemsworth and Cavill have both figured in speculation over who the next 007 will be, but who do our voters consider to be the better choice?

In this category, Cavill comes out on top — literally. The British actor is ranked #1 on the list, with Tom Hardy and Idris Elba filling out second and third place, respectively. Hemsworth is currently down at #41, which probably reflects less on the star’s acting chops than it does on the fact that Hemsworth isn’t British. You’d think Australian would be close enough for American viewers, but it turns out we’re a bit more discerning about our Brits than you might expect!

Who’s the Hotter Celebrity?

No, neither of these actors are #1 on The Hottest Male Celebrities of All Time (4.5 million votes), but Hemsworth comes pretty close. Not only is he #2 on this incredibly competitive list, but the top spot just so happens to belong to his brother Chris. At 33 years old, Liam is the youngest actor in the list’s Top 5, which also features Chris Evans, Zac Efron, and Ryan Reynolds. Not to reveal ourselves as being shallow, but that puts the younger Hemsworth at an advantage as the years go on — in time, however, the #6 celebrity, 24-year-old singer Shawn Mendes, may catch up with him.

Cavill, on the other hand, sits just outside the Top 20 at #21 behind Paul Rudd and the late Chadwick Boseman. It’s possible that, dreamy as he is, Cavill just doesn’t read as a “heartthrob” the way Hemsworth does…

Who’s the Hotter Celebrity of 2023?

Or does he?? Cavill ranks far higher on our list of The Hottest Male Celebrities & Actors of 2023 (30K votes) than on the overall list, coming in at #6 ahead of Jensen Ackles, Evans, and fellow Superman Tyler Hoechlin. And while Hemsworth isn’t far away at #12, he’s considerably lower on this 2023-specific ranking than on the all-timer list.

What could explain this discrepancy? The simplest explanation is that Cavill has kept a higher profile in the last few years than Hemsworth has. The Witcher quickly became one of the most popular shows on TV following its premiere in 2019, while Hemsworth has generally favored more eclectic projects like Arkansas and Isn’t it Romantic? Perhaps Hemsworth will be higher up on the list of Hottest Celebrities of 2024 once The Witcher’s fourth season premieres.

Who’s the Better Role Model?

What makes Cavill a great role model? He’s a genuine comic book nerd with a self-deprecating sense of humor and a reputation for being kind to his fans. Need proof? Look no further than our list of extremely charming interview moments with the Man of Steel himself. He may not be at the top of our list of The Greatest Male Celebrity Role Models (166K votes), but at #88, he still enjoys a comfy spot within the Top 100 ahead of beloved actors like Bryan Cranston and Bill Hader.

Hemsworth is outside the Top 100 at #121, though he still beats out notable celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Kevin Hart. Why isn’t Hemsworth as high on the list as his brother Chris? Maybe his divorce from Miley Cyrus has set him back with Americans who side with his pop star ex, whose latest hit is allegedly targeted at the Independence Day: Resurgence star.

Who’s the Better Actor?

They’re both primarily action stars with washboard abs and sexy accents, but when you get down to brass tacks, which one of them is the better actor? According to those who voted for The Best (Male) Actors Working Today (2 million votes), it’s close… but the honor goes to Hemsworth.

Hemsworth ranks at #123, while his Witcher predecessor Cavill comes in at #148, 26 spots behind him. The upper echelons of the list feature actors better known for dramas like top spot holder DiCaprio, while A-list action star and Cavill’s Mission: Impossible — Fallout co-star Tom Cruise comes in at #107. Is there a bias against actors who star in explosive shoot’em-ups and superhero franchises? Perhaps, though that bias has been much kinder to Hemsworth’s brother Chris, who is #37 on the same list.

Who Would We Rather Get a Beer with?

Have all those Foster’s commercials done a number on us Americans, or are Australians simply more fun to drink with? Whether or not it has anything to do with his nation of origin, Hemsworth comes out ahead of Cavill on our list of Famous Men You'd Want To Have A Beer With (2 million votes) at #265.

Don’t laugh at our Australian theory — Hemsworth’s countrymen on this list include Hugh Jackman, who’s ranked all the way up at #2, Liam’s brother Chris at #5, and the late Heath Ledger at #27 (though Russell Crowe is surprisingly low at #166). By contrast, the first British person to appear on the list is Patrick Stewart at #13, with the next Englishman, Tom Hiddleston, showing up in 36th place (depending on whether you consider the North Irish Liam Hemsworth to be British). Both countries have a reputation for being able to put away a pint or two, but head to head, Australians tend to come out on top. That’s one explanation of why Cavill trails Hemsworth on this list by quit a bit, with the English actor ranking all the way down at #343.

These stories are crafted using Ranker Insights, which takes over one billion votes cast on Ranker.com and converts them into actionable psychographics about pop culture fans across the world. To learn more about how our Ranker Insights can be customized to serve your business needs, visit insights.ranker.com, or email us at insights@ranker.com.

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