The Witcher series is a fantasy epic that centers on a monster hunter who uses his supernatural powers to navigate a medieval world full of demons, monsters, and political intrigue. It’s also a big hit among gamers who have embraced the source material written by Andrzej Sapkowski. The first three seasons of the Netflix adaptation featured Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, a role he nailed with a combination of physical prowess, deep knowledge of the games, and genuine love for the material. But with season 4 set to debut, the character will be played by Liam Hemsworth.
The recasting of the iconic hero has caused a stir online. Some fans believe Hemsworth’s performance shatters the immersive spell Cavill carefully built, while others argue that it’s only natural for the series to change things up with each new season. Hemsworth has proven his acting chops with roles in action films like Independence Day: Resurgence and rom-coms like Isn’t It Romantic, but he hasn’t yet demonstrated his ability to embody a stoic monster hunter.
When Hemsworth first appeared onscreen in the season 4 teaser, some viewers were apprehensive about his take on the role. But the actor proves that he can bring something new to Geralt while still honoring what came before him. His portrayal of the hero is more emotionally accessible than Cavill’s, which allows him to develop a more meaningful relationship with his new family of Ciri, Yennefer, and Jaskier.
Hismsworth also has a strong command of the show’s action sequences, making his fight scenes more fluid and realistic than Cavill’s. He’s not trying to match or surpass the grit and intensity of Cavill, but he shows that he can hold his own when it comes to physically demanding fight scenes.
Hemsworth’s most impressive aspect, though, is how well he handles Geralt’s stoic persona. He’s not trying to break through the surface with a showy display of emotions, but instead he communicates the inner conflict and pain of the hero through his eyes and body language.
If Hemsworth continues to portray Geralt in the same way throughout the rest of the season, he might be better suited for the role than Cavill was. But if the actor can continue to impress with his ability to combine toughness and emotion, he could end up being the best Geralt of all time. If you’re in the mood for more The Witcher, you can watch the first episode of season four on Netflix.