Fans of The Witcher were absolutely devastated to learn that Henry Cavill would not be coming back for the fourth season of the Netflix original. Fans were also a bit underwhelmed by the choice of Liam Hemsworth as Cavill's replacement in the role of Geralt of Rivia.
With many The Witcher fans threatening to stop watching, one can't help but wonder if Netflix is getting a bit nervous about their chosen replacement for Geralt. Though much of the disappointment likely comes from Cavill's departure more than any ill-will toward Hemsworth, it would be interesting to know if a different casting choice would have provoked a similar reaction. After all, Hollywood has no shortage of talented actors, many of whom would likely do a fantastic job as Geralt.
10 Zach McGowan Has A Lot Of Range
When Netflix first announced The Witcher, many fans wanted to see Black Sails alum Zach McGowan get a shot at the role. McGowan nailed the idea of a man haunted by his past actions in his portrayal of Charles Vane while also proving he could master action scenes.
McGowan has a lot of range, playing the much softer and more comedic role of Jody on Shameless. Actors who play Geralt need to show their compassion for those he cares for, as well as his fierce warrior side. Knowing McGowan can play a wide range of roles makes him a good choice to capture the complexities of Geralt of Rivia.
9 Jason Isaacs Has An Appropriately Intimidating Presence
Jason Isaacs has often played a villain throughout his career, which would actually make him an interesting choice for Geralt of Rivia. Geralt doesn't have the best reputation, and many still know him as the Butcher of Blavikan. Using audiences' initial perception of Isaacs and then subverting it would perfectly mirror how many people come to know Geralt's kind nature.
Issacs hasn't always played villains, so he is more than capable of pulling off a more likable character. During his brief stint in The Tuxedo, he was charming as Jackie Chan's romantic mentor, and nobody wanted to see him go near the end of Event Horizon. The main drawback would be the 20-year age difference between Isaacs and Cavill, which could be very jarring.
8 Aaron Taylor-Johnson Can Be Surprisingly Fierce
Most people likely think of Aaron Taylor-Johnson as one of his superhero roles from Kickass or Avengers: Age of Ultron. However, as Douglas in The Outlaw King, Taylor-Johnson proved he could be a fierce medieval warrior . Taylor-Johnson also proved he could pull off fight choreography, which is important for playing Geralt.
Geralt of Rivia is not all warrior; he is also a caring father figure and a bit of a romantic. Aaron Taylor-Johnson would likely be great at capturing Geralt's softer side as well. While Taylor-Johnson is younger than Henry Cavill, he is the same age as Liam Hemsworth, so age clearly wouldn't be a limiting factor here.
7 Sebastian Stan's Fans Could Save The Show
Sebastian Stan is a talented actor, and he's proven himself to be a capable action star in his various MCU appearances as Bucky Barnes. There were also rumors back before Henry Cavill was cast that the role might go to Stan, and audiences seemed to be on board.
Apart from being talented, Sebastian Stan has a very dedicated fan base, which could be exactly what Netflix needs to keep The Witcher from losing popularity. Because Cavill's recasting is so unpopular, Netflix might be smart to cast an actor that could get them some new audience members if previous fans really do stop watching.
6 The Northman Was The Perfect Audition For Alexander Skarsgård
Viewers who know Alexander Skarsgård from True Blood or Big Little Lies would likely agree that he's talented, but wouldn't necessarily cast him as Geralt of Rivia. However, thanks to his starring role in Robert Eggers's The Northman, Skarsgård more than proved himself a worthy contender.
Skarsgård didn't just prove that he could star in great fight scenes, but he also showed his talent for subtle expression. Geralt isn't exactly the type to wear his emotions plainly on his sleeves, so Skarsgård's talent for communicating complex emotions through non-verbal acting would be a huge benefit. Skarsgård is also very tall and strong, giving him the right look for Geralt as well.
5 Richard Madden Would Nail Geralt's Intensity
Geralt of Rivia is a very serious man, almost too serious sometimes. Richard Madden already has experience playing a similar character as Robb Stark in Game of Thrones. Madden's intensity as Robb could easily translate over to Geralt, and his strong jaw also gives him the look.
Of course, Geralt isn't all intensity all the time, and Madden has proven he has the range to not just be typecast as Robb Stark for the rest of his career. His role as John Reid in Rocketman stands out as an example of Madden's ability to portray different types of roles. Geralt is a dynamic character, so casting someone like Madden, who can capture his many facets, would be a great choice.
4 Richard Armitage Has Fantasy Chops & A Fantastic Voice
Richard Armitage has already played several roles that could help him play Geralt of Rivia. He has sword-fighting experience from his time as Guy of Gisborne on Robin Hood and starred in The Hobbit trilogy, giving him ample experience working in a fantasy setting.
Both Henry Cavil and Doug Cockle, probably the two most famous incarnations of Geralt, have played the character with a deep gravelly voice. Fans of Netflix's Castlevania series know that Armitage would be more than capable of pulling off Geralt's iconic sound thanks to his stellar performance as Trevor Belmont.
3 Robert Pattinson Would Make The Role His Own
If anyone has yet to be convinced that Robert Pattinson can pull off any role, they aren't paying attention to his career. Whether he's in blockbuster action films like The Batman or lower-budget indie films like Good Time, Pattinson consistently disappears into his characters and gives an incredible performance.
Choosing Pattinson would be a bold choice by Netflix, but it might just be the type of choice they need to keep fans watching. Fans may be saying they're done with the series after the recasting, but many viewers wouldn't be able to resist seeing what Pattinson would bring to the role of Geralt.
2 Luke Evans Works Well In Fantasy Settings
Luke Evans is another actor who has proven himself a good fit for fantasy. Between The Hobbit trilogy and Dracula Untold, Evans has proven that he has the right look for the genre and has no trouble selling some of its more fantastical elements.
Evans can easily look and act intimidating, making him capable of giving Geralt the appropriate presence on screen. His voice is also well-suited for what Henry Cavill already established during his time in the role. Evans doesn't look all that much like Cavill, but neither does Liam Hemsworth, so Netflix doesn't seem to mind mixing things up a bit there.
1 Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Has The Experience And The Look
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, most famous for playing Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones, has a lot of attributes that would make him a good choice for Geralt of Rivia. From his tenure in Game of Thrones, it's clear that Coster-Waldau is well-suited to the fantasy genre, and he already has experience with on-screen sword fighting.
Coster-Waldau also has the right look for Geralt, and fan art imagining Coster-Waldau in the role actually looks a lot closer to the Geralt of The Witcher games than Henry Cavill does. Coster-Waldau also has the range to play the soft and kind father figure while turning up the intensity for fight scenes.