Before diving into The Witcher, the life of Henry Cavill was anything but ordinary. He was donning the iconic Superman cape, swooping in to save the world. However, being the avid gamer that Cavill is, he had his sights set on becoming Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher. Transforming into the supernatural monster hunter from Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels was no walk in the park for Cavill, but as history would have it, no one could have aced the role better than him.

Out of the 206 actors in the running for the role of Geralt, it was Cavill who truly conquered the fight sequences, especially the swordplay. He opened up about the enduring journey that led to his mastery of this art.

Henry Cavill: The sword-wielding star of The Witcher

Cavill’s mastery was so impeccable that even weapon experts could not help but applaud his swordplay. The way he wielded the sword to close the gap between him and his opponents was nothing short of impressive. Fans were treated to a sizzling reel showcasing his newfound sword skills. The actor’s relentless training paid off, and he did not rely on any stunt doubles for those sequences. As shared by Cavill in 2019 at the Hall H panel at San Diogo Comic Con, he summed it up with a simple mantra, “It was practice, practice, practice.”

Even when he stepped away from the sets, the actor known for portraying the Man of Steel continued his sword practice to familiarize himself with the weight of the weapon. It went to such lengths that he had three swords at home and an additional four on set. Moreover, it was as though Cavill had forged a close friendship with these swords, mastering the art of wielding them. It is no wonder his impeccable performance, especially the epic showdown with Mahesh Jadu in Season 3, remains etched in memory.

Cavill’s expertise truly paid off when even the weapon expert himself could not help but applaud him, even in the face of the most challenging fight sequence.

Cavill’s swordsmanship stands tall

In an Insider video analyzing famous fight scenes, London Longsword Academy’s Master-At-Arms, Dave Rawlings, offered his take on Cavill’s swordsmanship in The Witcher. While he had reservations about the fight itself, Rawlings could not help but shower praise on Cavill’s sword skills, hailing his physical prowess and fluid movement as Geralt of Rivia.

He appreciated how Cavill positioned the sword in front of him, effectively closing the gap between himself and his opponents. Rawlings summed up his evaluation, acknowledging Cavill’s excellence despite the disappointing overall scene. Further, he gave the actor an eight for his performance and a four for the fight’s quality.

What do you think of Cavill’s mastery of the sword? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.