- Liam Hemsworth takes over as Geralt for the final two seasons, with the show addressing the recasting early in Season 4.
- Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich describes a creative “refresh” for the series, featuring a more vulnerable Geralt, a brighter tone, and less nudity.
- Seasons 4 and 5 were filmed back-to-back, telling one continuous story that concludes with a “really good payoff.”
- Season 4 deliberately concludes on a “downbeat” note to set up the final arc for Season 5.
A New White Wolf Steps Forward
As production wraps on the fifth and final season of Netflix’s The Witcher, all eyes are on the monumental shift at the show’s core: Liam Hemsworth is stepping into the leather boots of Geralt of Rivia. In a recent detailed discussion, showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich and Hemsworth himself opened up about replacing Henry Cavill and ushering in a new era for the beloved fantasy series.
Hemsworth, a long-time fan of the video games, admitted his shock when offered the role but was ultimately sold on the character’s complex emotional journey in the final seasons. “He’s not used to being in a place of doubt and struggle and fear,” Hemsworth explained, referencing Geralt’s weakened state following his brutal defeat at the end of Season 3.
Crafting a Different Geralt
Fans worried about the change can expect a different, yet familiar, monster slayer. Hissrich confirmed that the writers adjusted scripts to fit Hemsworth’s voice, striking a “happy medium” between the silent, grunting warrior of Season 1 and the more verbose intellectual of later seasons. A key difference? Hemsworth’s Geralt has a “dry wit” and even smiles.
“Liam has such a cheeky grin,” Hissrich recalled. “One of the things that he talked a lot about was for this dry wit that Geralt has, and that, in all honesty, he didn’t feel like was very present in the show.”
Hemsworth added that he didn’t want to simply redo what Cavill had done. The show will acknowledge the transition early on before moving forward. “Once I got on set and really understood where Henry left the role… it was no longer about having to think about that,” he said.
A Creative “Refresh” and Fearsome New Faces
The changes extend beyond the lead actor. Hissrich describes the final seasons as a “refresh” for the entire show, moving away from a morose, grey palette to a brighter, more hopeful aesthetic. This also includes a purposeful reduction in the sex and nudity that characterized the first season.
New Allies and a Truly Evil Foe
Geralt’s journey in Season 4 will see him build a new fellowship, or “hansa,” featuring new characters like Laurence Fishburne’s enigmatic vampire, Regis. Hemsworth praised working with the veteran actor, noting his infectious “childlike energy.”
On the opposite end of the moral spectrum is Sharlto Copley’s Leo Bonhart, a sadistic bounty hunter who may be the show’s most reprehensible villain yet. “There are no shades of gray with Leo Bonhart. He’s pure evil,” Hissrich stated, teasing Copley’s unscripted and perverse performance.
Watch this exclusive clip from The Witcher: Season 4 featuring Liam Hemsworth and Laurence Fishburne:
[Editor’s Note: A video clip was referenced here in the original article.]
The Beginning of the End
Seasons 4 and 5 were written and filmed back-to-back, functioning as one continuous story split into two parts. Hissrich warns fans to brace for a difficult conclusion to the upcoming season. “We made a choice at the end of Season Four to have it end on quite a downbeat,” she revealed. “To put people in this position where things have almost never looked worse.”
This gut-punch ending is designed to set the stage for the final push in Season 5. Both Hemsworth and Hissrich promise the difficult journey will be worth it. “There’s a really good payoff to the series,” Hemsworth teased. “And it feels complete.”
Image Referance: https://www.ign.com/articles/the-witchers-final-seasons-liam-hemsworth-and-showrunner-lauren-schmidt-hissrich-on-replacing-henry-cavill-and-crafting-a-really-good-payoff-to-the-series