Summary
Netflix’s decision to recast Henry Cavill as Geralt inThe Witcherwas extremely controversial, but the protagonist’s split with Ciri in season 4 makes me feel much better about his replacement. Despite leaving after three seasons of playing the central character,Henry Cavill has already found new franchises afterThe Witcher, proving his departure hasn’t had a huge impact on his career. He was very enthusiastic about his role during his time on the show and did a fantastic job portraying Geralt, makingHenry Cavill’sThe Witcherexitall the more divisive.
Netflix was quick to replace him with Liam Hemsworth, but the actor already faces a lot of pressure trying to live up to Cavill’s performance. Audiences didn’t react well to this change, which made me worry about how difficult it would be for Hemsworth to meet viewers' expectations. While Hemsworth is a great actor, Cavill’s popularity as Geralt is not something that can be easily replicated. However, Screen Rant learned some significantdetails about Ciri and Geralt’sThe Witcherseason 4 storyatSan Diego Comic-Con, which has eased my worries about Hemsworth taking over as the protagonist.
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Ciri & Geralt Will Be Fully Separated In The Witcher Season 4
The Witcher Season 4 Will Give Ciri & Geralt Their Own Solo Journeys Separate From One Another
Ciri and Geralt’s journeys have been intertwined throughoutThe Witcher’s first three seasons, but season 4 appears to be changing this. Rather than having the duo spend time on screen together, Freya Allan suggested that Ciri’s story will be separate in the show’s next installment, giving her the chance to shine independently. Speaking with Screen Rant at 2024’s San Diego Comic-Con, Allan revealed that “There’s no relationship this season. Ciri’s off on her own path and he’s off on his own.” As a result, it appears that the duo will have very few interactions together in season 4.
The Witcherseason 4 is currently filming.
Having escaped with the Rats inThe Witcherseason 3’s ending, Ciri already looked to be heading in a new direction, but Allan’s comments all but confirm this will be a season-long story. Given a spinoff following the Rats is currently in the works at Netflix, I imagine the group will play a key part in Ciri’s development as she takes on her new identity as Falka.Allan’s comments also mean that Geralt’s story is likely to take a turn after he seemingly abandons his neutrality, and having a more solo story eases my doubts about the protagonist’s recasting.
Why Ciri & Geralt Being Split Makes Recasting Henry Cavill Easier
Recasting Henry Cavill was always going to be difficult, but Geralt and Ciri having separate storylines makes it much easier. Audiences have gotten used to the actor’s dynamic with his fellow cast mates, and his on-screen chemistry with Freya Allan has been a central part of the show. I’ve loved watching Geralt and Ciri develop throughout the past three seasons, and their story wouldn’t be nearly as good without Cavill and Allan’s dynamic. Therefore, splitting the two apart for a season is the perfect way for Hemsworth to join the show and put his own spin on the protagonist.
The Witcherseason 3’s finale set up a potential shift in Geralt’s personality, making season 4 the ideal time to bring in Hemsworth.
The Witcherseason 3’s finale set up a potential shift in Geralt’s personality, making season 4 the ideal time to bring in a new actor. Given his story has also begun moving away from Yennefer,Geralt will hopefully be more independent in the next installment, allowing Hemsworth to establish his new version of the character. Allan’s comments suggest she doesn’t have any scenes with Hemsworth, meaning it will be a long time before the characters reunite, giving them plenty of time to change in the process.
As a result, Hemsworth will have time to create his own version of Geralt and can avoid trying to replicate Cavill’s performance. Keeping the protagonist away from Ciri and Yennefer during the beginning of season 4 sounds like the best possible move, and it makes me much more confident thatLiam Hemsworth can still work as Geralt inThe Witcher.
The Witcher Season 4’s Ciri Story Will Be Very Difficult To Get Right
Ciri Is Now Falka In The Witcher Season 4
The fact thatCiri is not expected to interact with Geralt inThe Witcherseason 4is the perfect example of how difficult it will be for the Netflix show to get this part of her story right. Ciri’s journey has already been a rather divisive portion of the series, especially when compared to the source material. The dynamic between Geralt and Ciri is arguably the best thing about Netflix’s version ofThe Witcher, and now these two characters will be on separate paths. If not done right, Ciri’s time as Falka ould be very controversial.
I can think of many examples of movies and shows that had a heroic character fall into a dark path, includingGame of Thrones.Ciri’s journey as Falka inThe Witchercould be as divisive as Daenerys’ shocking turn inGame of Thronesseason 8 if not treated carefully, even more so afterGeralt tried to teach his child of destiny that killing was a path of no return.Ciri distancing herself from Geralt and Yennefer while walking a troubled path is part of her story and must happen on the show, which does not make it easy to pull off.
Getting Ciri right in season 4 is one of many challenges thatThe Witcherwill have to overcome before it ends.
It should take quite a while for Ciri and Geralt to share the screen again if the show follows the source material. Not only will Ciri join the Rats and travel with them for a while, but she will also run into sinister forces that will want to use her and her powers. Although HenryCavill’s final scene inThe Witchersees Geralt abandoning his neutrality because of Ciri, he will not find her as fast as he wants. This is why Allen’sreveal at San Diego Comic-Conwas not that surprising.
Ciri’s Future In The Witcher Is One Of Many Challenges The Show Faces
The Witcher Will End With Season 5
Getting Ciri right in season 4 is one of many challenges thatThe Witcherwill have to overcome before it ends. It is arguably impossible to cover all of the remainingThe Witcherbooks in just two seasons, thus making it even more difficult for the show to have a satisfying ending. That said,there are plenty of ways to wrap up the stories of Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefereven without getting into the later books.The Witcherhas struggled whenever it deviates too much from the source material, but changes will have to be made to make it all work.
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While havingHemsworth’s Geralt on a journey of his own can make the transition from Cavill to the new star easier, I will miss the interactions between Ciri and the White Wolf. Without such an important dynamic,The Witcherseason 4 risks losing one of the few things about the show that has been universally praised. Regardless, I assumeThe Witcherseason 5 will bring everyone together for the grand finale. Ciri should have an epic ending based on how her story plays out in the books, which I’m excited to see translated to the screen.
The Witcher
The Witcher, released in 2019, follows Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster hunter navigating a turbulent world where humanity’s darker nature often eclipses the monstrous.
