One star from Susannah Grant’s Lonely Planet affected by its mysterious 38% score on Rotten Tomatoes is Liam Hemsworth. After Hemsworth and Laura Dern’s flawed romance movie, pressure is mounting for Hemsworth as he dives into his Netflix role as Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher. Hemsworth should consider his debut in The Witcher as an opportunity to prove he has what it takes to bring a notorious book character to the screen. Excelling in this role would also prove that he would make a better Geralt than the low Rotten Tomatoes score suggests.

Given Lonely Planet‘s recent negative reception, it’s crucial that Hemsworth nails his role replacing Henry Cavill as Geralt, to protect the longevity of his career. While some may already have doubts about this casting choice, Hemsworth’s background playing Gale in The Hunger Games does offer some hope that he will deliver a great Geralt. Already proving he can take a character off the pages and onto the screen, he just needs to prove he can do justice to Cavill’s previous take and out-act his own recent, past performances.

Lonely Planet’s Negative Reviews Put More Pressure On Liam Hemsworth’s Witcher Debut

Hemsworth Has To Deliver As Geralt Now More Than Ever

The last thing Hemsworth needed before stepping into such a highly-anticipated TV role was poor ratings for his previous project. The low score that Lonely Planet received has set expectations low for his performance of Geralt. This is unfortunate when such a beloved role, made famous by Cavill, will be big shoes for Hemsworth to fill anyway. However, Hemsworth may not have won praise for his edgy romance film because it might not have been suited to his acting style. Hemsworth’s physical appearance and on-screen presence make him ideal for more moody, intense, intimidating characters like Geralt.

Hemsworth has the perfect opportunity to subvert expectations and surprise everyone; if he approaches this role from a fresh perspective, he could even be better than Cavill. Replacing a beloved actor presents challenges, but Lonely Planet doesn’t indicate much about how Hemsworth will perform in The Witcher. Geralt is so different from the character Grant’s film that while there is pressure, The Witcher will likely provide Hemsworth with the opportunity to show off his depth which is sorely lacking in Lonely Planet.

If Hemsworth simply tries to pacify fans by copying Cavill, he will look worse in comparison.

Additionally, a classic pitfall that actors face when replacing another actor in their famous role is attempting to ease the transition or possible criticism by mimicking the previous actor. In Hemsworth’s case, he’d be wise to maintain Geralt’s powerful demeanor, established by Cavill, but make his own character choices as well. If Hemsworth simply tries to pacify fans by copying Cavill, he will look worse in comparison. Bringing his own perspective to Geralt would separate the character iterations and allow him to shine in his own right — and this change might be just what The Witcher series needs.

The Witcher Could Give Liam Hemsworth His Biggest Role Yet (But He Has To Nail It)

Geralt Has The Potential To Be A Career-Altering Role For Hemsworth

Unlike many roles where actors must fully invent their characters, Hemsworth has the golden opportunity within The Witcher franchise to base his portrayal of Geralt on the original source: the books. Hemsworth isn’t starting from scratch with this character, instead being able to reference the book series in an attempt to deliver an accurate depiction of Geralt. If Hemsworth pulls this role off and subverts the low expectations, he has the potential to tie his name to another famous book-to-movie adaptation and become a notable actor for countless other future Netflix series.

Casting-wise, Hemsworth is an objectively good choice for Geralt; he will be able to pull off the stoic and even threatening side of the character while showing hints of the loyal, protective aspects of his personality. Such a complex character is rich with opportunities for the actor to explore new traits and character choices, and if Hemsworth really connects with the script he will likely reveal new sides of Geralt that we haven’t seen before. This type of successful portrayal will likely generate a lot of buzz for the actor, leading to new, well-deserved acting jobs that actually suit his persona.

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Will Hemsworth Perform Well Enough To Secure Future Netflix Roles?

Despite notable success in the film industry, Hemsworth hasn’t worked on many notable Hollywood projects in recent years. Yet, he has landed a role in The Witcher, surrounded by hype, and tasked to play the main protagonist, which will undoubtedly put him back in the spotlight. If Hemsworth can embody the emotional complexities and tough exterior of Geralt at the same time, then he will likely be offered new Netflix roles soon for displaying such range. If The Hunger Games franchise revealed anything about Hemsworth, it’s that he is not afraid to tackle complicated characters.

The Witcher season 4 is due to premiere in the summer of 2025.

This role required Hemsworth to display his character’s depth and internal struggle while basing his portrayal on a book. The similarities between Geralt and some of Hemsworth’s past characters suggest that in a more fantastical and high-stakes setting, his range will be more impressive. This should serve him well in The Witcher as he will have to impress Netflix with his ability to show various sides of Geralt. Ultimately, Hemsworth will nail this role if he can focus on what makes him interesting to watch on-screen and dedicate himself to the character, rather than comparing himself to Cavill’s portrayal.