The writing for The Witcher Season 4 was well underway when the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes suddenly disrupted the process. Liam Hemsworth had been previously confirmed as a replacement for Henry Cavill, who unexpectedly announced his exit from the series after Season 3.
Hemsworth is now set to step into the shoes of Geralt of Rivia, a role made so iconic by Cavill that the Australian actor has immense pressure to deliver.
With the studios and WGA reaching an amicable solution, the strikes have now come to an end. This means that the writing for The Witcher will resume shortly, which includes polishing the script for season 4 and starting the works for season 5, as both seasons are being produced back-to-back.
Liam Hemsworth’s Tenure To Conclude After Two More Seasons?
While there has been no official confirmation, sources close to The Witcher series have confirmed that the show will conclude after a five-season run. Reports from Redanian Intelligence also indicate that production for season 4 will only kick off at the beginning of 2024, with a Netflix release expected no earlier than 2025. This suggests that Season 5 might only get released in 2026, at the earliest.
It also means that Liam Hemsworth, who signed up for the ‘White Wolf’ role, will have just two seasons to prove his monster-hunting skills. Earlier in 2022, it was revealed that Henry Cavill had signed a short-term deal with Netflix for Season 3 and was leaving the show after three seasons. The deal reportedly paid him a handsome $1 million per episode for that season.
The Man of Steel actor had differences with some of the creative choices made by the showrunners. Cavill wanted a portrayal of Geralt that remained true to its source material – Andrzej Sapkowski’s books. His growing frustration with the direction of the show may have led to the Justice League actor’s decision to leave the role.
While many fans would have loved to see Cavill return for the final two seasons (if the reports hold true), there are still high hopes for the series and Hemsworth’s portrayal.
Fan reactions were mixed when Liam Hemsworth was cast. Some fans chose to stay loyal to Henry Cavill’s grim portrayal of the character, while others were interested in seeing a fresh take on the Butcher of Blaviken. However, the delay in production has allowed audiences to become more accepting of Hemsworth in the role.
What Holds For The Witcher’s Reported Final Seasons?
According to Redanian Intelligence, the final two seasons of the now Liam Hemsworth-led show will be based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s final three books of The Witcher Saga – Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow, and The Lady of the Lake. After the exciting finale of Season 3, Season 4 will begin with Geralt’s quest to find Ciri and Ciri’s journey with the Rats as ‘Falka’.
Besides Liam Hemsworth, new cast members are set to join the upcoming season. Sharlto Copley, known for his roles in District 9 and The A-Team, has joined the cast as the ruthless bounty hunter, Leo Bonhart. Casting is also underway for crucial roles of Zoltan Chivay and Regis, with a big name rumored to be joining the series as Regis.
Although writing works were stopped due to the strikes, other departments have been preparing for a smooth start of production at Longcross Studios. A spin-off prequel, titled Rats, is in the post-production stage, and an anime series, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep, is also in development.
As fans wait for more official news on The Witcher Season 4, they can enjoy the three seasons now available for streaming on Netflix.
Source: Redanian Intelligence
