The Witcher Season 4 lands on Netflix with a new Geralt: release details, cast shake-ups, and the first wave of reviews

The Continent has a new White Wolf. The Witcher Season 4 premiered October 30, 2025 on Netflix, marking Liam Hemsworth’s debut as Geralt of Rivia and kicking off the two-season sprint that will wrap the saga. Filmed back-to-back, Seasons 4 and 5 adapt the closing stretch of Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels, with the core trio scattered and hunted as war reshapes the map.

The Witcher Season 4 release: what dropped and what’s next

All eight episodes of Season 4 are now streaming worldwide. The production completed Seasons 4 and 5 consecutively, so the final run is already in the can; a premiere window for Season 5 is expected after the dust settles from this launch. Expect a tighter focus on political intrigue, monster-of-the-week encounters bundled into larger arcs, and a road narrative that keeps the leads apart longer than in previous years.

The Witcher Season 4 cast: who’s in, who’s new

Returning pillars include Anya Chalotra (Yennefer), Freya Allan (Ciri), and Joey Batey (Jaskier). Among notable newcomers and promoted players:

• Liam Hemsworth steps in as Geralt, with a look that nods to prior seasons while emphasizing new scars and a slightly looser, more verbal edge.

• Laurence Fishburne joins as Regis, the charismatic barber-surgeon with secrets and a moral compass that doesn’t always point north.

• Sharlto Copley appears in a key antagonistic role tied to Ciri’s increasingly dangerous pursuers.

• Familiar power players return across the mages’ conclaves and Nilfgaardian court, while monster design leans into folkloric oddities over pure CGI brawls.

Why did Henry Cavill leave The Witcher?

Henry Cavill, who originated Geralt across the first three seasons, exited after Season 3. Public statements frame the move as a mutual decision tied to his desire to pursue other projects and a different professional path. There’s no single, definitive on-record reason beyond that; what is clear is that the handover was planned well in advance, allowing production to re-center the character and tone for Season 4 without mid-season disruption.

Early reaction: mixed but engaged

The first wave of critiques is split. Some praise Season 4 as a sharper, more cohesive outing that clarifies motivations and restores momentum after a sprawling third season. Others fixate on the lead change, arguing that Hemsworth’s take lacks the world-weary interiority fans associate with his predecessor. Viewers broadly agree on two points: Freya Allan’s Ciri continues to command the screen, and the set-piece craftsmanship—practical stunt work paired with more grounded creature encounters—has stepped up.

Story shape (no spoilers): three paths, one storm

Season 4 leans into separation:

• Geralt hunts for Ciri while navigating new alliances and moral trade-offs; the monster work doubles as intelligence-gathering.

• Yennefer rebuilds her political standing and confronts the costs of magical compromise.

• Ciri tests the edges of survival and identity as forces vie to weaponize her lineage.

Thematically, the season asks whether found family can survive when trust is the most valuable—and scarce—currency on the Continent.

Does the new Geralt work?

Hemsworth doesn’t mimic; he recalibrates. The voice is lower-gravel but more conversational, with flashes of gallows humor that were rarer before. The swordplay favors fluid footwork and close-quarters parries over brute force, and the camera lingers longer on reaction than quip. Whether that lands will be taste-driven, but the performance is clearly designed to grow into the role over two seasons rather than attempt a perfect facsimile on day one.

Should you watch The Witcher Season 4?

If you drifted after Season 3, Season 4’s premiere is a clean re-entry point: the stakes are spelled out, the geography is readable, and the monsters are memorable. If you’re here for character arcs, the season’s best scenes belong to Ciri’s tests and Yennefer’s political gambits, with Regis adding unpredictable charm. If you’re here for lore, the show finally treats prophecy and power like liabilities, not just legend.

Quick guide: where, how long, and what’s ahead

• Where to watch: Netflix (all eight episodes now available).

• Episode length: Mostly 55–70 minutes, with one shorter mid-season detour and a supersized finale.

• What’s next: Season 5 is finished and positioned as the series endgame. A release window is expected after Season 4’s performance metrics firm up.

The Witcher Season 4 arrives as a reset with resolve—new face, clearer plot, sturdier action. Whether it becomes your favorite will hinge on your Geralt; whether it’s worth your time is easier to answer: yes, especially if you’ve been waiting for the story to pick a lane and sprint.