Liam Hemsworth has a mammoth task ahead of him, replacing Henry Cavill.

Henry Cavill, after appearing as the Geralt of Rivia for a total of three seasons in Netflix’s The Witcher, bid farewell to the role, much to the heartbreak of fans around the world. The actor who would end up replacing him was always going to have a humungous task ahead of him, considering the weight of expectations and the fact that Cavill’s portrayal of the character was definitionally iconic.

Liam Hemsworth is the new Geralt of Rivia | Late Night with Seth Meyers
Liam Hemsworth’s swift announcement as Henry Cavill’s replacement left fans curious about how seamlessly the transition would be handled by the showrunners. Reports suggest that this challenge has been tackled by incorporating flashback scenes showcasing some of Cavill’s most iconic moments as Geralt of Rivia.

According to sources, Season 4 begins with a series of flashback sequences set roughly 100 years after the events of Season 3, during a time when Cavill’s portrayal of the character has already attained legendary status. These flashback scenes prominently feature Liam Hemsworth stepping into the role, hence his appearance wearing armor from Season 2 in the initial teaser.

Liam Hemsworth’s Geralt of Rivia will be introduced in this way, on The Witcher

Henry Cavill’s Geralt of Rivia [Credit: Netflix]
Season 4 of the series kicks off with a street beggar named Stribog, portrayed by Steve Russell, regaling a group of children with the tale of Geralt of Rivia. Among the children is Nimue, played by Eve Ridley, who along with the others, narrates slightly embellished versions of the story.

Stribog, ever the stickler for accuracy, interjects with corrections like “That didn’t happen” or “He didn’t look like that,” guiding the children toward a more faithful retelling of the legend. As the narrative progresses, the flashback scenes become increasingly accurate, mirroring the group’s journey toward the truth (Games Radar).

While it remains uncertain whether the flashback scenes featuring the “wrong accounts” will depict Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, it’s clear that the introduction of Liam Hemsworth’s portrayal will occur during this storytelling session. This pivotal moment will solidify Hemsworth as the definitive face of Geralt going forward. Additionally, reports suggest that Anya Chalotra’s Yennefer will also be present during this scene, though her involvement in the flashback sequences remains unclear.

With Netflix yet to announce the release date for Season 4, fans eagerly await to witness Liam Hemsworth’s entrance into his new role as Geralt of Rivia.

The Witcher Season 4 is the penultimate iteration of the series

Liam Hemsworth as the Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher | Netflix
There are plenty of reasons why Henry Cavill’s departure has left the show in a delicate position. The actor had effectively taken over the role and was for years recognized as the face of the iconic protagonist. He had gone to great lengths to portray it perfectly, and would even grunt regularly on the screen, akin to the way in which the character acted in the video game.

That seems to be the biggest reason why Hemsworth’s announcement was bound to disappoint fans. Rather than the actor being deemed unworthy or unsuitable for the character, it is the iconic portrayal of his predecessor that has left him in a delicately difficult position with respect to the role. Still, considering the fact that he is ideal, at least as far as physical features and dimensions are concerned.
Freya Allan will also be part of the opening scene in season 4 of The Witcher | Netflix
Regardless, Cavill has already done most of the job, with Season 4 of The Witcher confirmed to be its penultimate iteration. The series will end with Season 5, while a spinoff series on the Rats that saved Ciri back in Season 3 reportedly scrapped as well. Instead, a new anime series titled Sirens of the Deep will see Doug Cockle reprise his former role as Geralt.

The first three seasons of The Witcher are currently available to be watched on Netflix.