Liam Hemsworth has taken over the role of Geralt of Rivia, the White Wolf, for Netflix’s The Witcher season 4, which premieres on October 30th. The transition from Henry Cavill to Hemsworth brought considerable attention, and Hemsworth recently spoke openly about dealing with the reaction to the Henry Cavill role change.
Managing the Response to the Casting Announcement
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Liam Hemsworth shared how the attention surrounding his casting announcement created a distraction he needed to overcome.
“There was quite a bit of noise and I had to put that aside. It started to become a distraction. I dealt with that sort of thing in the past a lot and, you know, at the end of the day, I love making movies and I love telling stories and acting. I just don’t want any of that to affect my way of telling the story that I’m trying to tell. I jumped off social media and the internet most of last year,”
Hemsworth explained.
This decision to step back helped Hemsworth focus on his performance without the weight of public opinion clouding his approach. Lauren S. Hissrich, the showrunner of The Witcher, mentioned that Hemsworth was her first choice when recasting became necessary.
“His name has been out there for a very long time.”
Hemsworth himself admitted surprise at the offer, saying,
“It came out of nowhere. I was as surprised as anyone.”
Embracing a New Chapter for Geralt
As Hemsworth prepares to inhabit the role previously held by Cavill, he expressed admiration for his predecessor’s portrayal.
“I’m a massive fan of Henry’s, and I’m a fan of what he did in the show.”
Hemsworth also acknowledged a personal connection to Geralt’s character, particularly his protective instincts, a trait that resonates with Hemsworth due to his upbringing. His father worked as a social service counselor focused on child protection, instilling a strong sense of caring for others in Hemsworth’s early life.
“We were brought up with this real sense of taking care of people around you,”
Hemsworth said, adding,
“There’s elements of that I felt connected to.”
While honoring the foundation laid by Cavill in the first three seasons, both Hemsworth and Hissrich aim to inject new layers into Geralt’s persona, emphasizing his humor and charisma more in season 4. Hissrich emphasized Hemsworth’s dedication to the role.
“The other really great thing about Liam is he takes this really, really seriously,”
she said.
I think he knew that he was stepping into big shoes. It was really important to him to have certain things [for] continuity — and also certain things that he could invent so that his Geralt could stand on his own two feet.”
Explaining the Recasting and Future of The Witcher
The Witcher’s narrative will incorporate the recasting by playing with time and perspective, as hinted by set photographs that show Hemsworth recreating key scenes from earlier seasons. This approach supports the idea that he was Geralt all along.
Hissrich acknowledged the creative opportunity this presents, stating, “We absolutely play with time,” and added,
“We [are] having the most fun we’ve ever had with it.”
The show is planned to conclude with its fifth season. Despite Cavill’s departure, plans for continuing the series were always in place. Hissrich stressed that the show’s existence transcends any single actor.
“We never really had serious conversations about the show not continuing,”
she said.
“The show is bigger than one actor. It’s bigger than me. There’s a book series, there’s a video game. We are the third entry into this. So The Witcher lives whether or not we go.”
Hissrich also clarified details behind Cavill’s exit, noting conversations had been ongoing for some time. While initial reports cited creative differences, it’s now known Cavill chose to leave voluntarily to pursue other projects.
“He had plans for other roles that he really wanted to commit himself to,”
Hissrich revealed.
“And for us, you don’t want to hold someone and force them to be doing something that they don’t want to do. I think that’s why it felt like a really symbiotic decision.”
Following his departure from The Witcher, Henry Cavill returned briefly to the role of Superman in Black Adam before DC’s leadership changes under James Gunn and Peter Safran. Cavill remains active with upcoming projects including roles in franchises such as Highlander, Voltron, and Warhammer 40k.
Anticipation Builds for The Witcher Season 4
With Liam Hemsworth stepping into Geralt’s role under significant scrutiny and expectations, The Witcher season 4 arrives at a pivotal time for the series. Hemsworth’s experience handling public reaction and commitment to the character promises a fresh, nuanced take on the beloved monster hunter. The show’s inventive use of narrative time offers fans new ways to engage with Geralt’s journey.
The continued alignment with the source material, alongside Hemsworth’s personal connection to the character’s traits, positions season 4 as an important chapter in the franchise’s evolution. As the show moves towards its final season, viewers and fans are poised to witness how the new Geralt shapes the story heading into this concluding phase. The Witcher season 4 will premiere globally on Netflix on October 30th.
