The Witcher is one of Netflix’s most popular shows, taking the streaming service by storm. Even though its first season was released late in 2019, the show made it onto the top 10 list that year. The show continued to perform strongly into its second season, though deviations from the source material led to strong fan backlash throughout Season 2 and 3.
As each season continues to flesh out the story, more and more of the popular book characters are brought to life. The Witcher wouldn’t be anywhere without Geralt and Ciri, the two main characters of the book, but you also can’t forget about two very important figures in Geralt’s life, Yennefer and Jaskier. Seeing as these are the main characters to have carried over from season to season, you can expect to see them once again in the upcoming installment.
Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill / Liam Hemsworth)
The White Wolf is at the center of The Witcher, and for Season 4, he’s returning with a new face. Liam Hemsworth steps into Geralt’s boots, taking over from Henry Cavill in one of the most-talked-about recasts in TV history. Geralt is the stoic, silver-haired monster hunter at the heart of the series, navigating a war-torn Continent while searching for his adopted daughter, Ciri.
Hemsworth’s version embraces the weariness and grit that define Geralt, while offering a slightly more introspective take on the character. Known for The Hunger Games franchise and The Expendables 2, Hemsworth brings a blockbuster pedigree and a gamer’s passion (he admitted to being a Witcher fan long before landing the role). Whether fans like “Liamralt” or not, he’s here to stay through The Witcher Season 5.
Princess Cirilla (Freya Allan)
Ciri’s evolution from sheltered royal princess to a fierce warrior will be further explored in Season 4. Played by Freya Allan, Ciri is now separated from Geralt and Yennefer, running with a gang of outlaws known as the Rats. Her arc delves into darker territory, shadowed by themes of identity, power, and survival. Allan, who has grown with the role since Season 1, has made Ciri’s transformation seem intense and natural. She has also appeared in Gunpowder Milkshake and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, but The Witcher remains her biggest role to date. Season 4 promises a grand storyline for Ciri, hinting at romance and moral dilemmas.
Yennefer (Anya Chalotra)
Yennefer is magic, ambition, and heartbreak, all wrapped in one formidable sorceress. Anya Chalotra returns in Season 4, continuing her nuanced portrayal of Yen as she grapples with leadership and loss. Her bond with Geralt remains complicated, and her connection to Ciri is tested time and again as the trio splinters across the Continent.
Chalotra, who was relatively unknown before The Witcher, has since become a fan favorite. Viewers adore her layered, fierce portrayal, and Season 4 will find her forming new alliances and healing old wounds. However, her magical prowess and political savvy will be as vital as ever.
Jaskier (Joey Batey)
Everyone’s favorite bard is back in Season 4, and yes, he is still tossing coins and catching feelings. Joey Batey’s Jaskier brings levity to an otherwise dark series. In Season 4, he’s part of Geralt’s new crew and will offer both comic relief and emotional grounding. Batey, who also fronts the folk-rock band The Amazing Devil, infuses Jaskier with musical soul and sharp wit. His chemistry, especially with Geralt, is a highlight, and his songs are viral hits.
Regis (Laurence Fishburne)
A new face with ancient secrets, Regis is about to enter the fray in Season 4, and the legendary Laurence Fishburne plays him. Known for The Matrix, John Wick, and Black-ish, Fishburne brings gravitas to Emiel Regis, a higher vampire with a tragic past and a knack for philosophy.
Introduced in Baptism of Fire, Regis becomes one of Geralt’s most trusted allies. He’s not your average bloodsucker but a barber-surgeon, a scholar, and a moral compass. Season 4 marks the first appearance of Regis. He joins Geralt’s crew on the quest to find Ciri, adding depth to the journey ahead.
Leo Bonhart (Sharlto Copley)
If you thought The Witcher had already introduced its worst villains, Season 4 is about to prove you wrong. The new installment brings in Leo Bonhart, a bounty hunter so brutal he makes the Wild Hunt look like a warm-up act. Played by District 9’s Sharlto Copley, Bonhart is infamous in the books for hunting down Witchers and collecting their medallions like trophies.
He’s also the man who captures Ciri during her time with the Rats and turns her life into a waking nightmare. Copley’s casting is a stroke of genius because he’s got that menace to make Bonhart truly terrifying, especially with Ciri’s storyline taking a darker, more violent turn.
Stregobor (Lars Mikkelsen)
Stregobor has always been one of the show’s most enigmatic mages. A master illusionist with questionable morals and shaky alliances, he’s got a deep belief in the Curse of the Black Sun. Lars Mikkelsen (House of Cards, Sherlock) plays him well enough, making sure the character remains a thorn in Yennefer’s side since Season 1. Though his arc seemed to wrap up in Season 3, his legacy lingers in Season 4, especially as the Brotherhood of Sorcerers faces internal collapse. Mikkelsen captures the character’s haunting nature and imbues him with subtle arrogance.
Skellen (James Purefoy)
With Skellen, a new and dangerous player enters the game. Portrayed by James Purefoy (Rome, Altered Carbon), Skellen is a high-ranking spy and advisor to Emperor Emhyr. In the books, he is a vital part of the hunt for Ciri, and since Season 4 leans into that same espionage-heavy arc, Skellen is a key addition. Purefoy brings a calculating presence to the role, which is perfect for a character who operates in the shadows and pulls strings behind the scenes, especially with Nilfgaard tightening its grip on the Continent.
Zoltan (Danny Woodburn)
Finally, Netflix’s The Witcher adds a fan-favorite from the games and books. Zoltan Chivay, the gruff but lovable dwarf, makes his long-awaited debut in Season 4. He’s played by Danny Woodburn, who has previously starred in Bones and Seinfeld. Known for his loyalty, humor, and battle prowess, Zoltan is a welcome addition to Geralt’s growing crew.
Like many dwarves in fantasy, he is the kind of character who can swing an axe and crack a joke in the same breath. Whether he’s helping Geralt track Ciri or keeping morale high, Zoltan’s presence adds heart to the chaos.
Duny (Bart Edwards)
Duny, aka Emhyr var Emreis, is one of the most pivotal figures in The Witcher lore. Played by Bart Edwards (The Singapore Grip, Lykkeland), he first appeared as the cursed knight who claimed Pavetta under the Law of Surprise. But by Season 3, his mask drops, and he’s revealed as the Emperor of Nilfgaard and Ciri’s biological father. Season 4 continues to explore his ruthless ambition and his twisted sense of destiny. Edwards plays Emhyr quite well. His obsession with Ciri drives much of the conflict this season, and his scenes promise tension, intrigue, and drama.
Triss (Anna Shaffer)
Triss Merigold, the kind-hearted sorceress of Temeria, has had a softer arc compared to her book and game counterparts, but that does not stop her from being a steady part of the Netflix series. Played by Harry Potter alum Anna Shaffer (Romilda Vane), Triss is known for her healing magic, diplomatic instincts, and her complicated history with both Geralt and the Brotherhood. While she is not part of the core trio, Triss has been instrumental in guiding Ciri and aiding the mages when all went wrong. In Season 4, her role is expected to be more peripheral, as the story shifts toward war and survival.
Vesemir (Kim Bodnia)
Vesemir is the grizzled mentor and father figure to Geralt. He was introduced in Season 2 and quickly became a grounding force in Kaer Morhen. Played by Danish actor Kim Bodnia, known for roles in Killing Eve and The Bridge, Vesemir brought intensity and tenderness to the role, especially when he shared the screen with Ciri. However, Bodnia will not return for Season 4, as Netflix has confirmed the character will be recast. It’s a bittersweet shift, but whether the new actor will continue Vesemir’s arc or shift his role remains to be seen.
Francesca (Mecia Simson)
Queen of the Elves and one of the most powerful mages on the Continent, Francesca Findabair is genuinely a force to be reckoned with in The Witcher. Played by Mecia Simson, who won Britain’s Next Top Model before pivoting to acting, Francesca is a mage driven by grief, vengeance, and the dream that elves should return to their rightful place in the land.
Her storyline in Season 3 was devastating, and Season 4 will likely explore her broken alliances and growing desperation. As Francesca, Simson is equal parts ethereal and ferocious. With the war escalating, her character’s choices will ripple across the Continent.
Fringilla (Mimi Ndiweni)
Fringilla Vigo has been a wildcard since Season 1. A loyal Nilfgaardian with a complicated moral compass, she is played excellently by British-Zimbabwean actress Mimi Ndiweni (now credited as Mimî M. Khayisa). Her arc has swung between ruthless strategist and reluctant rebel, but it’s always been dynamic in one light or another.
Specifically, her relationship with Francesca and her fall from favor in Nilfgaard reveal many layers of her character. While her screen time in Season 4 hasn’t been heavily teased, her past actions still shape the current political landscape. Ndiweni is a great actress known for roles in Cinderella, The Legend of Tarzan, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Cahir (Eamon Farren)
Cahir has come a long way from the black-armored nightmare chasing Ciri in Season 1. Brought to life by Eamon Farren (Twin Peaks: The Return, The ABC Murders), Cahir’s arc is one of redemption and guilt. He’s also seen a shift in loyalties in later seasons. The fourth installment of The Witcher puts him back in the spotlight, as he takes on a more expansive role within Nilfgaard’s ranks while coming to terms with his own past. Farren has teased that Cahir is “slowly taking over,” which hints at a power shift, and his interactions with Liam Hemsworth’s Geralt may be interesting.
Dara (Wilson Mbomio)
Dara’s journey through The Witcher has been heartbreaking. Introduced as a young elf who helps Ciri in Season 1, Wilson Mbomio’s Dara has evolved into a conflicted figure caught between loyalty to his people and the brutal politics of the Continent. By Season 3, he’s working as a spy for Redania, and Season 4 continues to explore the fallout of those choices. Mbomio, who previously appeared in Hunter Street and The Favourite, might not always be present on screen, but his emotional arc lands hard. As tensions between elves and humans escalate in Season 4, Dara’s role deepens, too.
Phillipa (Cassie Clare)
The Witcher universe has seen many mages, good and bad, but Philippa Eilhart is one of the most cunning of all, and Cassie Clare plays her with icy precision. A master of polymorphy (yes, she turns into an owl), Philippa is Redania’s secret weapon, who works closely with spymaster Dijkstra. Clare, known for Brave New World and The Sandman, brings both evil and elegance to the role.
Season 4 is all about the fallout of magical betrayals from previous seasons and new political power plays, so Philippa is sure to clash with Yennefer and make bold moves that threaten to topple the mage hierarchy.
Istredd (Royce Pierreson)
The intellectual heart of the magical world of The Witcher series, Istredd is a scholar, an archeologist, and an occasional romantic foil to Yennefer. Played by Royce Pierreson (Line of Duty, The Irregulars), Istredd offers a lighter, more thoughtful counterpart to the chaos around him. His relationship with Yennefer is complicated, but his loyalty to truth and history remains consistent. Pierreson’s performance is understated but magnetic because he makes magic and exposition feel like poetry.
Sabrina Glevissig (Therica Wilson-Read)
Not many casual viewers have paid attention to her, but Sabrina Glevissig is the sassiest sorceress at Aretuza, and she knows it. Brought to life on screen by Therica Wilson-Read (Stopmotion, Young Wallander), Sabrina is sharp-tongued, fiercely loyal, and never afraid to speak her mind. While she is often used for comic relief, her role in the Brotherhood is no joke.
Moreover, Wilson-Read brings charisma and bite to the role, making Sabrina more than just a background mage. Overall, she is part of the new generation of magic-wielders trying to survive a crumbling order, and she’ll make sure she makes it out alive.
Vilgefortz (Mahesh Jadu)
Vilgefortz, a mage with charm, ambition, and terrifying power, is the ultimate chessmaster in The Witcher. Mahesh Jadu (Marco Polo, Neighbours) plays him with smooth menace, making every line sound like a threat wrapped in silk. By Season 3’s end, Vilgefortz reveals his true colors by betraying the brotherhood and launching a fatal attack on Geralt.
Season 4 finds Vilgefortz in full villain mode, with Jadu’s performance expected to reach new heights. It’s safe to expect epic confrontations and mind games as Vilgefortz becomes the central antagonist in the war for Ciri’s future.
Look out for all of these characters and more when The Witcher Season 4 premieres on Netflix on October 30.
- Release Date
-
December 20, 2019
- Network
-
Netflix
- Showrunner
-
Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
- Directors
-
Stephen Surjik, Charlotte Brändström, Edward Bazalgette, Loni Peristere, Louise Hooper, Bola Ogun, Alex Garcia Lopez, Gandja Monteiro, Sarah O’Gorman
- Writers
-
Haily Hall, Clare Higgins, Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Jenny Klein, Tania Lotia
-
-
Anya Chalotra
Yennefer of Vengerberg
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
