Netflix fantasy series The Witcher is returning to theaters after more than two years with a new lead role and a fresh tone, say its makers.
The new episode, which starts on Thursday, sees Australian actor Liam Hemsworth take over the role of Geralt of Rivia from Henry Cavill, who has played the monster hunter since the series began in 2019 and stepped down after the third season in 2023.
The series is based on the books by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski and follows Geralt as he hunts monsters in a fictional realm known as the Continent.
“It was definitely an interesting decision to make, it’s a unique situation,” Hemsworth said of taking on the role midway through the series.
“I didn’t like that there’s a huge, passionate fan base that really cares about this character and this world. As a fan myself, I felt like I could bring something to it and I wanted to do justice to this world.”
Hemsworth came to the project with “a lot of ideas”, hoping to bring some kindness to Geralt’s story.
“I’m playing my interpretation of what I think will be beneficial to this world, this story and its journey,” he told Reuters.
Creator Lauren Schmidt Hissrich said season four strikes a balance between Hemsworth’s dry sense of humor and “super dark moments.”
“It feels like a refresher for the show,” he said. “Liam brings a new energy and everyone rose to meet it, including how the show looks, how it sounds, how it moves.”
In season four, Geralt, who was last seen separated from Princess Ciri and the witch Yennefer, teams up with new traveling companions and makes emotional connections.
“Matrix” actor Laurence Fishburne is another addition, playing the vampire Regis. New to the fantasy genre, Fishburne was drawn to the diversity he saw in previous seasons.
“The way they gave this world was very non-traditional. This world is like the world we all live in,” he said.
The fourth season was filmed with the fifth and final season. Together they cover Sapkowski’s three remaining novels “Baptism of Fire”, “The Tower of the Swallow” and “Lady of the Lake”.
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