In 2022, viewers received the unfortunate news that Netflix’s The Witcher would be losing one of its stars, Henry Cavill (Geralt of Rivia). Liam Hemsworth (who replaced Cavill) and series creator Lauren Schmidt Hissrich discuss the changes that had to be made and how they affect the show’s final seasons.
In an interview with IGNHissrich explained her thought process regarding recasting Geralt for The Witcher’s fourth season. There were so many aspects of the character that had to be taken into consideration. Whoever took Cavill’s place had to have the emotional depth and physical capabilities that the original actor had.
When we were looking at who could potentially fill the shoes of Geralt, there is a physicality that has to be present. You need someone who you can imagine can excel at these action scenes, who has such a physical presence that they could be both intimidating in the story, but also, Geralt has a huge emotional side as well.
The creator ultimately decided on Hemsworth to replace Cavill. She praised his portrayal of the character, saying that he captured the essence of Geralt perfectly, and he was a great fit.
What I really loved about Liam’s work that I had seen is that he was able to organically blend those two things. He didn’t have physical scenes and then emotional scenes. He was able to really carry this specific, I guess I call it, soul. He has a soul that he brings into the role… To have that present even through action scenes when he’s fighting monsters, and it’s the same thing that’s present when he’s having conversations with Ciri or with Yennefer, that was a really special thing that we were able to capture. And when I had watched some of his work, specifically going back to Hunger Games, that’s something that I felt from him.
Hemsworth expressed his gratitude for landing the part. He said that his character in The Witcher was complicated, and it was exciting for him to be able to portray someone like Geralt.
I thought it would be a really great opportunity to dig into this very complex character that, particularly in this part of the story, is dealing with so much. He’s not used to being in a place of doubt and struggle and fear.
The pair went more in depth regarding the impact recasting Geralt had on the show. Hissrich said that rewrites had to be done, so the lines would feel more natural. While things such as the actors’ different dialects (Cavill’s English and Hemsworth’s Australian accents) may not seem too significant, they actually matter a lot more than most would realize. She explained, “We started making adjustments to make sure that things sounded more natural coming out of Liam’s mouth.“
The creator also elaborated on how Geralt’s personal journey has transformed in The Witcher season 4, bringing in a whirlwind of new emotions. She stated, “He is in a more emotional, vulnerable place. So we were able to adjust (for) this new actor coming in.”
Hemsworth added that he didn’t want to copy or change anything that his predecessor had accomplished. He was determined to make the character his own while staying true to Cavill’s version of Geralt. “I understood emotionally where this character was at this point in the story, my job going forward became the same as it as it ever is: I’m just focusing on the direction I’m moving in, and trying to understand why I’m going that way.“
While it was sad for The Witcher’s cast, crew, and showrunners to lose Cavill, Hemsworth joining the show was still a welcome change. The recasting has allowed the series to bring back a brighter side of Geralt. “There is nothing better than when Geralt finds joy and humor, especially in the people that he’s with,” said Hissrich. This was something that the creator was more than happy to see. She explained, “That was really great to see in dailies again, that we were able to bring that flavor back.”
All 8 episodes of The Witcher season 4 will be available to stream on Netflix on October 30, 2025.
- Release Date
- December 20, 2019
- NETWORKS
- Netflix
- Showrunner
- Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
- Directors
- Stephen Surjik, Charlotte Brändström, Edward Bazalgette, Loni Peristere, Louise Hooper, Bola Ogun, Alex Garcia Lopez, Gandja Monteiro, Sarah O’Gorman
- Writers
- Haily Hall, Clare Higgins, Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Jenny Klein, Tania Lotia
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Anya Chalotra
Yennefer of Wengerberg
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