Actor Liam Hemsworth is set to take over the crucial role of Geralt of Rivia from Henry Cavill for the upcoming fourth and fifth seasons, which will conclude the popular series. However, Hemsworth recently shared that he had some significant hesitations about accepting the part.
In a recent interview, he revealed feeling “pretty reluctant” when first approached. He explained, “I had a lot of concerns and questions about it all. I was a big fan of the video game and then I watched the series, and was a fan of the series, and I read the books.”
His primary hesitation stemmed from the immense dedication of the Netflix series’ established fanbase, who had grown accustomed to and deeply enjoyed Henry Cavill’s portrayal of the monster hunter.
Hemsworth elaborated on his decision, stating, “I think if I wasn’t a fan myself, if I didn’t care about it, I wouldn’t have come on board. The reason I came on board was because I was a fan, and because I thought that I could do justice to this character. I thought that [I] could bring an interesting interpretation to this part of the story.”
Showrunner Lauren Schmidt-Hissrich also weighed in on the transition. She mentioned that when Cavill decided to depart, the production team was committed to maintaining Geralt’s core visual identity, even with a new actor.
She emphasized, “We knew there were things that were really important to keep with Geralt—obviously, his look has to stay the same. He’s a different human being, but I think there’s so many things that are sort of synonymous with Geralt—the white wig and the yellow eyes and the black leather and not wearing any color, and the way he walks through the world.”
Nevertheless, Schmidt-Hissrich confirmed that Hemsworth put in considerable effort to develop his own distinctive version of Geralt. “He needed to make Geralt his, and it was really important to let him do that and let him explore it and find it,” she clarified.
Fans can look forward to ‘The Witcher’ Season 4, which premieres on Netflix on October 30. The new season will also feature Laurence Fishburne, known for his role in ‘The Matrix.’ A fifth and final season is scheduled to arrive at a later date, bringing the saga to its conclusion.