Oh, boy! It looks like Liam Hemsworth is fighting an already lost battle with The Witcher’s fanbase. Netflix has dropped the official trailer for Season 4, and fans have accepted it anything but graciously.
The latest trailer shows the Continent preparing for a grand-scale war against Vilgefortz. However, an entirely different battle is raging online. The early metrics on YouTube clearly indicate that things are going to get worse for both the show and its new leading man, Liam Hemsworth, who replaced Henry Cavill after Season 3.
The Season 4 official trailer has received more than 27k dislikes on YouTube, against only 12k likes. And it seems like the number of dislikes on the clip will increase in the upcoming days.
This shows that a noticeable portion of The Witcher’s fanbase has rejected the Australian actor entirely as Geralt of Rivia. The fans are fiercely loyal to Cavill, and they are not giving Hemsworth an inch to breathe.
For many viewers, Henry Cavill wasn’t just an actor playing a part, he was the embodiment of Geralt of Rivia. His commitment to the source material, including the books and video games, was legendary among fans. Many believe that Cavill is one of those rare actors who actually understand the lore of The Witcher.
When Cavill announced his exit, citing what many outlets believe were disagreements over the show’s direction, it wasn’t just a casting change, it was interpreted as a sign of the show abandoning its roots. The sudden arrival of Liam Hemsworth, though a talented actor, was destined to be viewed through this lens of loss and perceived betrayal.
While the footage showcases Hemsworth in impressive action sequences, appearing physically capable and embodying Geralt’s stoicism, the narrative strategy of acknowledging the recasting is a big gamble.
Fans’ dissatisfaction with The Witcher goes back to Season 2, in fact, when they accused the showrunners of poor writing, unnecessary plot changes, and a disregard for the established lore of Andrzej Sapkowski’s books. Many believe these significant creative changes forced Cavill to quit the show.
As the premiere date (October 30) approaches, The Witcher Season 4 stands at a critical juncture. The overwhelming negative reaction to the trailer suggests that for a significant portion of the audience, the show has crossed a line of no return.
While some fans and reviewers have praised Hemsworth’s action choreography and disclosed their willingness to give the new actor a fair chance, the sheer volume of negative responses on YouTube indicates that things are about to get messier than before for the showrunners and Netflix. Stay tuned for more updates.
Check out the new trailer for The Witcher Season 4 right here!
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