Liam Hemsworth won’t have an easy time stepping into the role of Geralt in The Witcher season 4, but based on the comments from costar Freya Allan, he will do just fine. Actor Henry Cavill’s departure from the Netflix fantasy series was a severe disappointment, especially since his performance was a consistent high point. The Witcher has been under fire ever since season 2 took some serious departures from book canon, and a recasting was the last thing it needed. This, of course, means that Hemsworth is at a significant disadvantage, and he will have to fight to rise to the occasion.
The Witcher season 3 was Cavill’s last in the role, so Hemsworth will be the new Geralt in the upcoming season 4. This will require quite an adjustment since neither actor shares many resemblances, and their drastically different filmographies make this transition difficult to imagine. However, this isn’t to say that Hemsworth won’t be able to manage the role of Geralt in The Witcher. If done with care, the actor should be able to make audiences forget that Geralt is suddenly rocking a new face, and according to costar Allan, he’s well on his way.
Allan, who has played Princess Cirilla alongside Cavill for the past few seasons of The Witcher, recently stated that she feels sorry for Hemsworth. She noted that the Witcher fan base can be “very attack-y” and that “it’s not an ideal situation to be in taking up someone else’s role.” However, she went on to say that he is a “lovely guy” and that she hopes audiences will give him a chance. Allan has reassured fans that Hemsworth wants to “bring the heart” to the role, which is easily the most encouraging thing the actor could have said.
For a role like Geralt, it would be easy enough for Hemsworth to decide that he simply has to pack on the muscle and brood, and that would be enough. However, Cavill brought so much more to the role than just brawn. He was a self-professed The Witcher fan and was aware of the nuances of Geralt’s character from Andrzej Sapkowski’s fantasy novels. This was evident in Cavill’s performance, where a great deal of emotion and heart were conveyed without many words. If Hemsworth also recognizes this, then it’s a great sign that he could pull this casting change off.
Of course, Hemsworth’s knowledge that the role of Geralt requires heart rather than just brawn doesn’t guarantee he will nail it. The Witcher has been heavily criticized for its choices in recent seasons, with complaints of pacing problems and too many divergences from canon. Viewership has steadily fallen since season 1, but one of the consistent praises from devoted fans has been Cavill’s performance. His aggression and grunts are even meme-worthy, which means that the actor and role have already become engrained in popular culture.
This makes Hemsworth’s job virtually impossible. Many will dismiss the actor and series without watching since they can’t wrap their mind around The Witcher without Cavill. Others will be overly critical as they watch. If Hemsworth grunts too much like Cavill, he will be called a copycat, but if he adds his own flavor to the role, this will invite even more aggressive attacks. In all, it seems like Hemsworth can’t win for losing, but there is still hope this transition will breeze through without too much of a hitch.
Hemsworth’s understanding that Geralt is a role requiring heart is an excellent first step, and the more he embraces this, the more likely he is to be accepted. However, in a way, it’s entirely out of his hands. Even if the new actor is perfect in the role in every way, it won’t mean much if the writing in The Witcher season 4 isn’t up to snuff. The only way Hemsworth will be accepted is if the plot is so intriguing that it becomes easy to forget that a recast happened.
To pull this off, The Witcher season 4 must realign itself with canon, presenting a more book and video-game-faithful TV adaptation. This will ensure an exciting story arc and great character development, leaving even the harshest critics with little to complain about. Then, as long as the series approaches the recast with a touch of comedy (perhaps having Jaskier call out Geralt’s appearance change), the heat should be taken off Hemsworth enough that his heart can shine through.