"The Witcher" Season 4: Liam Hemsworth Steps Into Geralt's Shoes And Finds His Footing!

In Season 4 of "The Witcher", Liam Hemsworth steps into the monster-slaying boots of Geralt of Rivia, replacing Henry Cavill and bringing a fresh but faithful take on the beloved, steely antihero. Season 4 leans heavily into political intrigue and dark fantasy, striking a balance between emotional depth and epic, bloody swordplay. While the transition may be jarring for longtime fans, Hemsworth’s performance suggests a promising new era for "The Witcher", which has been renewed for its fifth and final season by Netflix. 

"The Witcher" is peak fantasy drama TV. Helmed by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich ("The Umbrella Academy") and based on the book series by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, the series brings to life the medieval-inspired fantasy realm known as The Continent. Originally slated to be adapted into a standalone Netflix film, the creators recognized the depth and detail of the wealth of novels and decided to turn it into a long-form series. While remaining faithful to the novels, Hissrich sought to change the structure of the novels into something better suited for television, including nonlinear storytelling, and this choice paid off. The series has branched off into several spinoffs, including an animated film, Nightmare of the Wolf (2021), and a live-action prequel series, "Blood Origin" (2022). This supplemental material and 3 seasons’ worth of content so far allow audiences to get to the "soul of the story" about a "broken family" who are "determined to not need anyone, and yet of course they do," according to Hissrich. 

In September of 2018, Netflix announced that Henry Cavill would play Geralt of Rivia, selected from a pool of 200 actors. Fresh off his tenure as the DCEU’s Superman, Cavill was looking to break out of his type and try a new character and genre. It worked. His Geralt was steely and sexy, with his intense physicality perfect to execute the sword-fighting sequences. He also has a reserved, quiet vulnerability under his stony face, particularly when around Ciri or Yennefer. Though trying to be a stone-cold killer, Geralt cannot help but fall in love. 

Cavill excelled as Geralt because he combined physical presence with subtle emotional depth, making the monster hunter both intimidating and relatable. His dedication to portraying Geralt’s combat skills and swordsmanship added authenticity and intensity to the role. Additionally, Cavill captured Geralt’s dry wit and moral complexity, bringing the character to life in a way that resonated with fans of the books and games.

So, when the announcement that Liam Hemsworth would be replacing Henry Cavill in the role, fans were shocked. Hemsworth had tough shoes to fill -- he had to both match the overpowering physicality of Cavill while ensuring that his paternal instincts, softness, and wit still shine through. Though bumpy at first, as the adjustment to the new face is handled by reshooting archival Cavill’s scenes with Hemsworth, the actor soon becomes Geralt. Standing at 6’3”, Hemsworth has the intimidation factor down. Moreover, coming off the romance film Lonely Planet, the actor seems fiercely excited to return to the world of action he was in during The Hunger Games franchise. 

Hemsworth must pick up where the Season 3 cliffhanger left off and find Ciri. The actor has to adopt the emotional and long-developed chemistry Cavill had with co-stars Freya Allen and with Anya Chalotra. While his portrayal does feel unfamiliar, the change to Hemsworth is key to the emotional journey of Seasons 4 and 5 of "The Witcher". Geralt’s character has been fleshed out for 3 seasons, his relationships are set, and his beliefs are held strong. So, Hemsworth must continue to drum up interesting character moments through not only hand-to-hand combat sequences but also through revealing more of Geralt’s caring and protective side. For the first time in the series, Geralt is alone and scared. Hemsworth must ensure that Geralt’s compassion for his family is not a weakness of manhood but a strength he can use to find Ciri and reunite his found family. 

Season 4 isn’t without its bumps, though. The pacing can be uneven, with episodes that swing wildly between exhilarating monster hunts and clunky exposition dumps. Some of the dialogue feels overly self-serious, and even with a tighter narrative, the show occasionally struggles to balance its sprawling cast and mythology. Still, there’s a pulpy charm to its imperfections — "The Witcher" remains big, weird, and unapologetically ambitious. New cast members, including the legendary Lawrence Fishburne as Regis, a centuries-old vampire, is a delightfully creepy highlight. 

And then there’s Liam Hemsworth. Taking over for Henry Cavill was never going to be easy, but Hemsworth brings a fresh energy to Geralt -- less brooding, more feral, but still grounded in that signature mix of grit and dry humor. He doesn’t yet own the role the way Cavill did, but his performance hints at a promising future for the series. If Season 4 is about transition, it’s also a reminder that "The Witcher"’s best magic lies in its willingness to evolve.

"The Witcher" Season 4 is now streaming on Netflix.