The Witcher and Superman Actor Henry Cavill Addresses Concerns of “Toxic Fandom”
The Witcher and Superman actor Henry Cavill recently discussed “toxic fandom” while promoting his upcoming Netflix show.
In an interview with Jake’s Takes, host Jake Hamilton asks Cavill quite a lengthy question about toxic fandom.
Hamilton says:
“There’s something really interesting with this character that I find fascinating, which is that he genuinely really does just want to do the right thing. But everywhere he goes, whether its a new town or a new bar, people just kind of give him a hard time and they rag on him despite the fact that he has great intentions. I’m curious if that’s comparable to this sort of world, this culture of toxic fandom, where like if you make a movie especially if you make a superhero movie, you have great intentions, but there are always going to be a small, yet vocal group of people that can kind of just be toxic.”
Cavill was cool as a cucumber in his response.
“I understand what you are saying, but when it comes to fans, it is a fan’s right to have whatever opinion they want to have.”
He continues:
“People are going to be upset especially when you are talking about books or games because you are never going to be the exact person who they had in their head or who they played in Witcher 3 for example. I don’t necessarily consider that toxic; I just consider that passionate and it’s something that which I obviously had to come to terms with over the years.”
Related: Netflix Releases First Looks at Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri for The Witcher
Cavill adds:
“For me, with the comparison is not like that with Geralt walking into a bar. The comparison is more meta. It’s more to do with xenophobia, and sexism, and colonialism and all those effects that has on people and who they divert their fear and energy towards and that tends to be Geralt. Because he is a guy who exists outside of society.
He continues to explain:
He’s not part of a group when he walks into town. And he looks so different from everyone else and no one can control him. He is faster, stronger, better at swords, and apparently can do magic as well. You can’t control him and you fear him. And therefore all of your energy, especially in a crowd of people, will be diverted at him because of everything that is happening above you in the world.”
“The only thing that everyone is destined for is death. Death is the other blade of the two-edged sword. I am the first blade.” pic.twitter.com/7XOkVhnohq
— The Witcher (@witchernetflix) November 4, 2019
The way Cavill answers the question shouldn’t really be a surprise. The actor himself is a fan of The Witcher, comics, and video games.
Related: Report: Netflix’s The Witcher To Focus on Ciri and Yennefer Over Geralt
For example, he missed the call from Zack Snyder telling him he won the role of Superman in Man of Steel due to him playing World of Warcraft.
In an interview on Conan, the actor revealed that he missed the call because as he said, “I had my priorities straight”.
What do you think of Henry Cavill’s view on fandoms? Compared to others in the industry it seems to be a sharp contrast.
“Evil is evil, Stregobor. Lesser, greater, middling, it’s all the same. Proportions are negotiated, boundaries blurred. I’m not a pious hermit, I haven’t done only good in my life. But if I’m to choose between one evil and another, then I prefer not to choose at all.” pic.twitter.com/zfFsw9CeAN
— The Witcher (@witchernetflix) November 5, 2019
The Witcher goes live on Netflix on December 20th. Will you be catching it?
More About:TV Shows
Read This Next
