Short answer: Henry Cavill left The Witcher, and Liam Hemsworth took over the role of Geralt starting in Season 4, due to Cavill’s own project plans and a decision about the show's direction, with the production offering an in- universe explanation to ease the transition. Details and context

• Why Cavill left: In 2022 Cavill announced he would depart The Witcher after Season 3 to pursue other projects. Public statements emphasized his desire to explore different roles and projects, along with the studio’s interest in aligning the adaptation with a broader creative direction. This departure was framed as Cavill following personal and professional goals rather than a sole on-set dispute.

• Why Hemsworth was chosen: Liam Hemsworth was selected to continue Geralt’s story, with producers aiming for a seamless transition while maintaining the character’s core traits and the show’s tonal direction. Reported reasons include scheduling, contractual decisions, and the need to keep the series moving forward with high-profile casting that could sustain production across additional seasons.

• How the show explains the change on screen: The Witcher Season 4 introduces an in-universe framing for the recasting, using meta-narrative devices to acknowledge that a different actor is now playing Geralt. Critics and outlets highlighted scenes and lines that acknowledge the shift without derailing the story, effectively making the transition feel intentional and self-contained rather than jarring.

• Public reception: Early reactions to the recasting have been mixed, with some reviewers calling it an upgrade and others more cautious about the change. The franchise supporters and critics have largely treated it as a documented shift and focused on Hemsworth’s performance in the new seasons.

What this means for fans

• The Witcher continues with Hemsworth as Geralt for the remaining seasons, with the production team emphasizing continuity of the character’s essence and backstory as depicted in the books and games, while using narrative devices to acknowledge the change in casting.

• Cavill’s exit is tied to his broader career goals and a desire to pursue other roles, rather than a simple contractual dispute, and the showrunners have positioned the recasting as a natural evolution of the adaptation’s creative leadership.

If you’d like, I can pull in more recent interviews or summarize critics’ detailed assessments of Hemsworth’s portrayal versus Cavill’s, or explain any in-universe references The Witcher uses to frame the transition.