Netflix's The Witcher has premiered its fourth season, with showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich detailing how the series subtly addresses Liam Hemsworth taking over the role of Geralt from Henry Cavill. Through an opening sequence and reshot scenes, the show emphasizes the theme of evolving stories. Interviews reveal the cast's preparation and emotional arcs ahead.
Opening Sequence Alludes to the Recast
In the Season 4 premiere, The Witcher introduces Liam Hemsworth as Geralt via a meta narrative device. A young girl named Nimue challenges elder storyteller Stribog's version of Geralt's tale, insisting on the accuracy of Jaskier-penned book 'A Half Century of Poetry.' Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich told TVLine, 'We wanted to play with the idea, which is a huge theme in The Witcher, of how stories change depending on who is telling them.' This setup hints that prior seasons' events might reflect a specific perspective, inviting viewers to reconsider the narrative.
Reshot Scenes and Hemsworth's Preparation
To integrate the change, the production reshot key moments from previous seasons with Hemsworth. Hissrich explained, 'We wanted to not dance around the fact that this is a new human being... revisiting these really important moments in Geralt's life, now seeing them embraced by a new human.' Hemsworth, who has prepared for the role over two-and-a-half years, described his first shoot—a fight against Kikimoras—as daunting but rewarding. 'By the time I stepped on set, I was feeling really good,' he said, noting months of training in costumes, wigs, and sword fighting.
Geralt and Yennefer's Arc
The season begins with Geralt and Yennefer separated, as Anya Chalotra shared: '[She is] on a very separate journey [from Geralt and Ciri].' Yennefer focuses on building a mage army against Vilgefortz. Their reunion later in the season carries emotional weight, with Chalotra adding, 'When they do come together... I hope fans feel what that means.' The cast aims for audiences to focus on Geralt the character, not the actor, as Hissrich hopes the transition fades into the story.