The Witcher's future has been questioned because Netflix has built a reputation for canceling shows after a few seasons. So, even with a plan to replace Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, Netflix could have canceled the show after the third season, anyway. According to the show's casting director Sophie Holland, that's not the case.
The Witcher season 3 will mark Cavill's last portrayal of Geralt; Liam Hemsworth will take over for the show's fourth season. The decision garnered some fan backlash for a couple of reasons. First, Cavill's performance garnered praise from fans and critics alike due to his faithfulness to the character fans knew and loved from the books and video games. Second, Cavill was open about wanting the Netflix series to be a faithful adaptation of the books because he is a fan of the Witcher books and video games. Cavill's vision for the show wasn't shared by the writers, which is reportedly partly his reason for leaving The Witcher.
While Holland refused to comment on Cavill leaving the show, she did talk about the production of The Witcher season 4 during an interview with Deadline. Following a comment about "a very special - almost standalone - episode of season 4 of The Witcher," Holland was asked, "So season four is about to get underway, right?" Holland confirmed that and offered a little more information, saying, "We’re just about to start filming on season four with Liam Hemsworth and there will be a short gap then we go straight into season five."
Although there weren't rumors circulating about an early end to The Witcher, its future has been questioned since Cavill's departure. Even though some fans took issue with the direction of season 2, they were still on board with Cavill's Geralt and reassured by the fact that a fellow fan was advocating for the books' canon on set. While there's time for things to change, Netflix apparently plans to release two seasons featuring Hemsworth's Geralt.
What could change those plans is fans' reactions to the show. If enough fans voice their dislike for Hemsworth or stop watching the show altogether, Netflix may not think it's worth producing a fifth season after the fourth premieres. While Netflix isn't necessarily known for listening to fans' opinions, there's a chance that enough fan backlash could lead to a change of plans. When fans clamored for the release of the Snyder cut of Justice League, their cries were met with a previously unreleased, four-hour-long cut of the movie aptly titled Zack Snyder's Justice League. Though this particular brand of fan service isn't necessarily a force of good, it could set a precedent for listening to fans rather than investors and CEOs.
The Witcher season 3, part 1, hits Netflix on June 29, 2023.
Source: Deadline