Liam Hemsworth Opens Up About Taking Over as Geralt in The Witcher Season 4

Liam Hemsworth has admitted that taking over the role of Geralt of Rivia from Henry Cavill in season four of The Witcher was “a little daunting.” Cavill, 42, portrayed the monster hunter in the first three seasons but announced in October 2022 that he would be stepping away from the hit fantasy series. Hemsworth, 35, a long-time fan of the show, said he was thrilled to join the cast but felt nervous given the franchise’s passionate fan base.

“I was a massive fan of this world and this character, and I was really excited to come on board,” Hemsworth told the PA news agency. “But then, leading up to the actual shoot, it was a little daunting. I think just realising how big it was, there’s a really passionate fan base behind it, which I appreciate and love. I think through having a good chunk of time to really prepare for it, and being welcomed so kindly into this group by these guys and the rest of the cast, I felt really good by the time I stepped on set.”

Season four follows Geralt, Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra), and Princess Cirilla of Cintra (Freya Allan) as they traverse a war-ravaged continent and confront numerous dangers while apart from one another. Allan, 24, said she enjoyed exploring Ciri’s independence in this season. “I feel like I’d always been playing Ciri while attached to Yennefer and Geralt, almost as if I were still the child in their care,” she explained. “Obviously, there’s so much more to her than that, but it was really nice to explore who Ciri is without them, and to discover her as a young woman now.”

Chalotra, 30, added that Yennefer steps into a leadership role this season. “Yennefer is stepping into a leadership role, something that she’s always wanted for very different reasons and now very organically, because of her loyalties and connection to Ciri,” she said. “She’s fighting for a better world and she knows enough now she can use her voice for good and share all the information she has to make this a safer space, to find Ciri and to defeat Vilgefortz.”

Hemsworth also praised fellow cast member Joey Batey, who plays Jaskier, for supporting him during filming. “Joey was my real guiding light through it all,” Hemsworth said. “I understood where Geralt was and what his emotional state was. But as for things that had been shot in the past, Joey was so good at filling in the gaps and bringing little clues or call backs to moments they’d filmed before. He’s amazing at tying things from the past into what’s happening now. Anytime I had any concerns or questions, I’d go to Joey. He’s such a great guy, so kind, such a brilliant actor. I really love that guy.”

Hemsworth, known for playing Gale in The Hunger Games film series, has also starred in The Last Song (2010), The Expendables 2 (2012), and Land of Bad (2024). The Witcher season four premieres on Netflix on Thursday, October 30, with the streaming platform revealing in 2024 that season five will be the series’ final installment.