The second part of The Witcher season 3 is set to premiere this Thursday, but the fantasy adventure adaptation's return to Netflix will surely be bittersweet for fans of the show.
Though The Witcher will return for (at least) one more season, star Henry Cavill will not be back as Geralt of Rivia, with Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games) taking over as the titular monster hunter going forward.
The trailer finds Geralt forced to part ways with his makeshift family (Anya Chalotra's Yennefer of Vengerberg and Freya Allan's Princess Cirilla of Cintra), in an attempt to keep them safe as dark forces close in around them.
We've been assured that Hemsworth's take on the character won't simply be dropped in to season 4 as if nothing has changed, so we assume there will be a storyline explanation for the actor switch.
"As monarchs, mages, and beasts of the Continent compete to capture her, Geralt takes Ciri into hiding, determined to protect his newly-reunited family against those who threaten to destroy it. Entrusted with Ciri’s magical training, Yennefer leads them to the protected fortress of Aretuza, where they hope to uncover more about the girl’s untapped powers; instead, they discover they’ve landed in a battlefield of political corruption, dark magic, and treachery. They must fight back, put everything on the line – or risk losing each other forever."
The Witcher also stars Joey Batey (Jaskier), Myanna Buring (Tissaia), Eamon Farren (Cahir), Mimî M Khayisa (Fringilla), Royce Pierreson (Istredd), Anna Shaffer (Triss Merigold), Mecia Simson (Francesca), Tom Canton (Filavandrel), Mahesh Jadu (Vilgefortz), Graham McTavish (Dijkstra), Cassie Clare (Philippa), Hugh Skinner (Radovid), Wilson Mbomio (Dara), Lars Mikkelsen (Stregobor), Terence Maynard (Artorius), Simon Callow (Codringher), Liz Carr (Fenn), Therica Wilson-Read (Sabrina), Safiyya Ingar (Keira), Rochelle Rose (Margarita), Michalina Olszanska) (Marti), Robbie Amell (Gallatin), Jeremy Crawford (Yarpen), Bart Edwards (Emhyr), Aisha Fabienne Ross (Lydia), Christelle Elwin (Mistle), and Meng’er Zhang (Milva).