The Witcher’s fourth season has sparked significant attention with the recasting of the lead role, as Henry Cavill has been replaced by Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia. However, the changes in casting extend beyond the central character, with another key witcher, Vesemir, also portrayed by a new actor this season. This recasting adds complexity to the show’s evolving narrative and production dynamics.
Peter Mullan Takes Over the Role of Vesemir in Season 4
Vesemir, known as the oldest and most experienced witcher from the School of the Wolf, serves as a mentor to Geralt and the other witchers trained at Kaer Morhen—including Remus, Lambert, and Eskel. After surviving the attack that devastated Kaer Morhen, Vesemir’s role is crucial in shaping the younger witchers, particularly Geralt.
Originally introduced in Season 2, Vesemir was portrayed by Kim Bodnia. That season focused on Geralt’s return to Kaer Morhen alongside Ciri, triggering intense and chaotic events caused by the dark entity Voleth Meir, whose goal was to capture Ciri. Although Vesemir and the witchers were absent in Season 3, they return in Season 4 with a new actor stepping into the role.
For Season 4, Scottish actor Peter Mullan assumes the character of Vesemir. Mullan is a seasoned performer known for a variety of roles, including Jake in Riff-Raff, Joe Kavanagh in My Name Is Joe, and Corban Yaxley in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. He has also appeared in several television productions such as Shoebox Zoo, The Fixer, and Ozark. His experience in fantasy series includes playing King Durin III in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, making him familiar with complex genre material.
The Reason Behind Kim Bodnia’s Departure from Vesemir Role
Kim Bodnia did not return to portray Vesemir in Season 4, a decision that surprised many fans given the original continuity and the simultaneous recast of the lead role. The actor’s absence is attributed to scheduling conflicts. At the time of Season 4’s production, Bodnia was committed to filming the movie F1, directed by Joseph Kosinski. In that project, he plays Kaspar Smolinski, a team principal for the APXGP racing team.
Although filming of F1 began in 2023, the production schedule was disrupted by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, prolonging work into 2024 and thus conflicting with his availability for The Witcher. Alongside F1, Bodnia continues his acting career in Danish cinema and is known internationally for his role as Konstantin Vasiliev in the acclaimed series Killing Eve.
The Many Faces of Vesemir in Netflix’s Witcher World
Peter Mullan is the second live-action actor to play Vesemir in Netflix’s adaptation of The Witcher, but across the entire Netflix Witcher universe, the character has been portrayed by four different actors. In Season 1 of the show, Vesemir’s presence was limited to a voice role performed by Theo James.
The same actor lent his voice to Vesemir in the animated prequel film The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, which explores the witcher’s past. David Errigo Jr. voiced a younger version of Vesemir in this film. Thus, along with Kim Bodnia and Peter Mullan, these four artists have contributed to the multiple representations of the character, reflecting different stages of Vesemir’s life.
Although Vesemir has not been a central figure in every season, his significance lies in his pivotal role as Geralt’s father figure and enduring mentor. The show’s narrative has largely centered on Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer, limiting screen time for other important characters like Vesemir. Whether the character will appear in future Witcher spinoffs or films remains to be seen, as does the question of whether any of these actors will return to the role or if further recasts will occur.
The evolving casting decisions highlight the challenges of maintaining continuity while adapting to changes in actor availability and production demands for such a sprawling fantasy series.
