The first three seasons of The Witcher saw Henry Cavill don the white hair and blazing orange eyes of the deadliest monster hunter on the continent, Geralt of Rivia. With the former-Superman stepping away, Liam Hemsworth is set to step in to take over starting in season four and fans have been given a first official look of the actor as the titular hunter.
Fans were given a first official look at Hemsworth as Geralt days after images appeared online of the Australian-born actor in full costume on set for the Netflix series' production via Entertainment Weekly. Despite the change in actor, Hemsworth's Geralt is seen still sporting the iconic white hair, orange eyes, and armor that fans of the Netflix series will recognize alongside the monster hunter's most trusted companion and steed, Roach.
“His look has been in development for over a year, so it’s thrilling to finally share an official sneak peek of Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia,” showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich told EW in a statement. “Cast and crew alike have been struck by the passion, energy, and embodiment Liam has brought to the character from Day 1 — scruffy beard, iconic scar, and all! We’re having so much fun filming season 4 and are excited to welcome fans along on this journey with us.”
Hemsworth will be joining series for season five as well, which Netflix confirmed will be The Witcher's final season. Series veterans Anya Chalotra, Freya Allen, and Joey Batey are set to return for seasons four and five as Yennefer, Ciri, and Jaskier, respectively.
From Swords to Bolters
Cavill portrayed Geralt for the first three seasons of The Witcher, with many longtime fans of the books and video games praising the actor for his portrayal of the monster hunter for hire. However, his time in the role came to an end in October 2022 when he announced he was stepping down and announced Hemsworth as his replacement.
“My journey as Geralt of Rivia has been filled with both monsters and adventures,” Cavill said in a public statement. “In my stead, the fantastic Mr. Liam Hemsworth will be taking up the mantle of the White Wolf. As with the greatest of literary characters, I pass the torch with reverence for the time spent embodying Geralt and enthusiasm to see Liam's take on this most fascinating and nuanced of men. Liam, good sir, this character has such a wonderful depth to him. Enjoy diving in and seeing what you can find.”
Cavill is not leaving behind the fantasy world entirely, though, as he is set to produce and star in a Warhammer 40,000 live action series for Amazon. The actor is longtime and outspoken fan of the grimdark sci-fi tabletop miniature war game and universe, though it is not known who he will be playing in the series.