Netflix announces The Witcher season 4, but Henry Cavill won’t be back
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While we patiently await season 3 of The Witcher, there’s some good news and potentially bad news for fans of the fantasy series: Netflix has renewed the show for a fourth season, but star Henry Cavill isn’t returning as Geralt of Rivia.
According to the Netflix announcement (opens in new tab), Liam Hemsworth – perhaps best known as Gale Hawthorne in The Hunger Games series – will step into the role. That casting change is pretty much the only information we have about season 4 right now.
“My journey as Geralt of Rivia has been filled with monsters as well as adventures, and alas, I will be laying down my locket and my swords for Season 4,” the departing Cavill said in a statement. “In my place, the wonderful Mr. Liam Hemsworth will take on the mantle of the White Wolf.”
“As with the greatest literary characters, I pass the torch with reverence for the time I’ve spent embodying Geralt and enthusiasm for seeing Liam’s take on this most fascinating and nuanced man. Liam, good lord, this character has such an amazing depth for him, enjoy diving in and see what you can find.”
“As a Witcher fan, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to play Geralt of Rivia,” Hemsworth added. “Henry Cavill has been an incredible Geralt and I am honored to have him hand me the reins and allow me to pick up the White Wolf’s swords for the next chapter of his adventure.”
“Henry, I’ve been a fan of yours for years and was inspired by what you brought to this beloved character. I may have some big boots to fill, but I’m really excited to step into the world of The Witcher.”
Just wait
You can find all sorts of reactions to the news on social media, of course, but it’s probably best to reserve judgment on the switch until season 4 actually comes out – although it’s fair to say Cavill has been great in the role. and will be difficult to replace.
In an ideal world, the casting would have remained steady, but there’s no reason Hemsworth can’t also impress as Geralt. We’ve recently seen deliberate casting changes to HBO’s House of the Dragon – another epic fantasy series that’s developed a loyal following – showing they can work if done right.
Then, of course, there’s Doctor Who, who recently parted ways with Jodie Whittaker as the lead. The difference here is that casting changes are built into the show’s story, but again proof that they don’t have to kill a series’ momentum.
However, we’ll have to wait a while to see how Hemsworth fares. Supposedly, The Witcher season 4 filming hasn’t started yet, nor is there any indication that it will start any time soon. We’re looking at a 2024 release at the earliest.
Netflix hopes the change from Cavill to Hemsworth will not affect the popularity of the show, one of its biggest hits. The spin-off The Witcher: Blood Origin makes its debut on Christmas Day and should keep fans going until Season 3 comes out sometime next year.
What we didn’t get from Netflix is a reason for the change. Since Cavill has just revealed that he’s returning as Superman in another movie, he might just run out of time for The Witcher – or maybe he just feels like he needs to take some time away from the continent right now.