More information is trickling in about the new season of The Witcher, which will sadly be without Henry Cavill. This time, Geralt will be portrayed by a different actor – and this is only one of the surprises regarding the cast.
The finale of The Witcher season 3 was explosive, to say the least. Tragedies struck left right and centre, as Geralt and his friends faced more powerful enemies than they’d ever seen before.
The series, based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s series of fantasy novels, is one of Netflix’s flagship productions, so it’s no surprise that season 4 is on the way. We’ve gathered all the most important information about the next chapter of the show.
The Witcher season 4 release date
In October 2022, Netflix announced the fourth installment of The Witcher. Filming was set to start in May 2023. However, due to WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, production was paused and filming was delayed to an unknown date in 2024.
For now, it’s hard to say when The Witcher season 4 may be released. Most probably, we won’t see the show’s new episodes until 2025 at the earliest.
Who’s in the cast for season 4?
Regarding casting, the fourth season of The Witcher is about to undergo a real revolution. Netflix has announced that Henry Cavill is leaving the series, with Liam Hemsworth taking over as Geralt.
For viewers, the news came as a real shock, especially as Cavill himself had been vying for the lead role when the show began. Although neither Netflix nor the actor revealed the reasons for the decision, it’s unofficially said that Cavill resigned due to growing dissatisfaction with the direction of the series.
However, we assume that other actors known from previous seasons will return to their roles. This could include the following:
- Freya Allan – Ciri
- Anya Chalotra – Yennefer
- Joey Batey – Jaskier
- Anna Shaffer – Triss Merigold
- Eamon Farren – Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach,
- Mahesh Jadu – Vilgefortz
- Mimi Ndiweni – Fringilla
- Lars Mikkelsen – Stregobor
- Mecia Simson – Francesca Findabair
- Royce Pierreson – Istredd
- Therica Wilson-Read – Sabrina Glevissig
- Cassie Clare – Phillipa
- Graham McTavish – Dijkstra
- Ben Radcliffe – Giselher
- Christelle Elwin – Mistle
- Fabian McCallum – Kayleigh
- Aggy K. Adams – Iskra
- Juliette Alexandra – Reef
- Connor Crawford – Asse
- Wilson Mbomio – Dara
- Bart Edwards – Emperor Emhyr
- Hugh Skinner – Radovid
- Meng’er Zhang – Milva
The casting announcement for the role of Emiel Regis, one of the most beloved characters from the books and games of the Witcher universe, came as a big surprise. The mysterious surgeon will be played by Laurence Fishburne, who is best known for his roles in The Matrix and John Wick.
One of the most terrifying characters from Andrzej Sapkowski’s books is the bounty hunter Leo Bonhart, who is tracking Ciri. In the Netflix series, Sharlto Copley, known for such films as District 9 and Elysium, will play the cruel mercenary.
The fourth season will also feature a cunning Nilfgaard spy, Stefan Skellen – Emperor Emhyr’s special task man. The intelligence officer will be portrayed by James Purefoy, who became popular for his role as Mark Antony in the Rome series.
The dwarf Zoltan Chivay, Geralt’s good friend, will be played by Danny Woodburn, who recently appeared in the series Willow.
Season 4 won’t see the return of Tissaia (MyAnna Buring), Lydia (Aisha Fabienne Ross), Rience (Sam Woolf), Filavandrel (Tom Canton), Artorius (Terence Maynard) and Gallatin (Robbie Amell).
What will the plot of season 4 be?
The fourth season of the series will be based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s novel Baptism of Fire – the third volume of the so-called Witcher saga. However, it’s difficult to say what events from the book will make it into the series, given that the show’s creators have often strayed far from the novels.
In Baptism of Fire, a team is formed to search for Ciri, who went missing after the Thanedd Coup. Geralt and Jaskier, along with the archer Milva, wander the war-ravaged continent, and, along the way, they meet dwarf Zoltan Chivay, Cahir and the mysterious Emiel Regis. We assume that this story in the series will remain unchanged.
During this time, Ciri joins the Rats – a group of young bandits involved in assaults and robberies. During her stay with the crew, she lets the dark side of her nature come out, but also finds love.
It’s difficult to predict what awaits Yennefer in season 4. In the book, after the Thanedd Coup, she stays as a guest with Francesca Findabair, who saved her from the mage Rience. During this time, Philippa Eilhart establishes a secret Lodge of Sorceresses to protect the interests of mages and change the fate of the world. Yennefer gets the opportunity to join the conspiracy, despite not being fond of the idea.
In season 4 we will undoubtedly see the Lodge’s activities, but we don’t know yet what role Yennefer will play in it.
How to watch the next series of The Witcher
As this is a Netflix original, it should come as no surprise that it’s exclusive to the streaming service.
If you’ve not yet got a Netflix subscription, you can sign up on the website and take a look at our list of the best streaming services to see how it stacks up to the competition.
Will there be a season 5 of The Witcher?
The Witcher’s casting director Sophie Holland told Deadline that season 4 filming will be followed immediately by production on season 5. However, we don’t know when this will be released.
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