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The Witcher’s showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich has opened up on Liam Hemsworth’s unique take on Geralt of Rivia as he replaces Henry Cavill in the fourth season of Netflix ’s hit fantasy series. Cavill departed the iconic role after three seasons, passing on the baton to Australian Hunger Games star Hemsworth to conclude Geralt’s story in the fourth and fifth outings. Speaking exclusively to Reach at the show’s London premiere, Hissrich hinted at a seamless transition between the two leads. “I don’t think it’s about distancing at all,” she said of Hemsworth’s portrayal. “He wanted to honour the template that had been set for him, this character was originated with someone else. And he’s still playing Geralt, so we needed to keep a few key things there.” However, as the fourth season expands on Geralt’s arc, as well as his relationships with the likes of Ciri (played by Freya Allan) and Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra), fans may also spot some subtle changes in his demeanour. “But, there were aspects that Liam wanted to bring that were solely his,” Hissrich continued. “He really wanted to bring in a sense of humour, especially in a season that is darker than we’ve probably ever done. “But I also think what fans will notice is the sense of ease, the sense of confidence that Liam brings to his Geralt. There’s such a comfort level in these scenes and it’s like he’s always been there. I’m excited for everyone to see that.” While Hemsworth’s casting is by far the biggest shake-up to the world of The Witcher, there are plenty of other surprises awaiting Netflix subscribers throughout season four. Teasing the new additions, the showrunner confirmed: “I mean, Laurence Fishburne and Sharlto Copley and a couple of other big characters that come in. “I would say, tonally it’s slightly different, not necessarily because of the cast changes but because of the story changes. At this point of his journey, Geralt is in a very emotional place.” Following a dramatic loss at the end of season three, Hemsworth’s Geralt will start off more exposed compared to the first three instalments. “He’s lost everything, he’s a broken man,” Hissrich said. “He’s injured, which we’ve never seen before. So, I think Liam especially got to bring these new, vulnerable depths to the character and I think that’ll be very new and fun for audiences." Geralt was memorably left bedridden at the end of The Witcher’s third season following a ferocious battle with the sorcerer Vilgefortz (Mahesh Jadu), spending the final two episodes recovering under the care of Queen Eithné (Josette Simon) and her dryads. Season four will pick up with the warrior still feeling the repercussions of their brutal bout, introducing fans to a much more broken Geralt than they’ve ever seen before. The Witcher season 4 premieres Thursday, 30th October on Netflix.
