Why was Vesemir recast in The Witcher season 4? Kim Bodnia exit explained

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With Liam Hemsworth taking over the role of Geralt in The Witcher after Henry Cavill’s unexpected exit, fans are adjusting to a new lead actor. But Geralt isn’t the only character receiving a fresh look – other Witchers are also undergoing changes.

Kim Bodnia, known for his role in Killing Eve, previously portrayed Vesemir, a beloved father figure and mentor to Geralt, in Netflix’s fantasy series. However, he will not be appearing in the fourth season.

The show will introduce a new actor to play Vesemir, and also feature several new characters, including Regis, who will be played by Laurence Fishburne.

Here’s everything we know about Vesemir’s recasting.

Why was Vesemir recast in The Witcher season 4?

In the movie F1, Bodnia portrayed Kaspar Smolinski, the team principal and a former engineer for the APXGP Formula 1 racing team. Brad Pitt starred as Sonny Hayes, a driver who had retired from the team.

Filming for the Formula 1 movie was temporarily halted because of the 2023 strikes by the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild, as cast and crew members participated in the work stoppage.

Because the movie was filmed during real Formula 1 races at famous tracks, the resulting delays meant the actor who plays the leader of Kaer Morhen couldn’t reprise his role right away.

Who is playing Vesemir in The Witcher season 4?

Since Bodnia couldn’t continue with the Netflix show due to other commitments, Peter Mullan, a Scottish actor known for his role in Trainspotting, has joined the cast as a tough, experienced monster hunter.

Many fantasy enthusiasts will recognize Peter Mullan as Durin III, the Dwarf King from Prime Video’s ‘The Rings of Power’ – especially for his memorable scene with the Balrog!

He’s also appearing in the Outlander spin-off, Blood of My Blood, playing Red Jacob MacKenzie, the leader of Clan MacKenzie and Ellen’s (played by Harriet Slater) father.

Mullan is clearly a talented actor with a strong background in fantasy roles. However, it’s disappointing that fans won’t see the existing connection between Henry Cavill and Anya Chalotra continue, as their on-screen relationship as Geralt and Yennefer is a key part of the show, especially with Freya Allan as Ciri.

When did we last see Vesemir in The Witcher?

Okay, so last season, we left our monster hunter hero at Kaer Morhen – a seriously old, isolated fortress nestled way up in the Blue Mountains of Kaedwen. It’s a place steeped in history, and where the remnants of his crew were holding out. It felt like a real last stand, and I’m eager to see what happens next after that cliffhanger.

Geralt brought Ciri to the Witcher fortress so she could be trained by Vesemir, a seasoned mentor and member of the brotherhood. Vesemir educated her about the history of the world – specifically the Conjunction of Spheres – and explained the significance of her unique Elder Blood, which might hold the key to saving the Witchers and creating new ones.

Things got really intense after Ciri was possessed by that demon, Voleth Meir, and then a basilisk attacked! We almost lost Vesemir, and sadly, some others didn’t make it. With fewer and fewer Witchers left, Vesemir, along with Lambert, Eskel, and Coen, were left with the tough job of trying to rebuild Kaer Morhen. It was a really bleak moment for them.

What happens to the last Witcher is a big question for fans of both the books and the games. Many will be surprised to see him return, especially considering his short appearance near the beginning of the final book, The Lady of the Lake, after he spent time training Ciri in Blood of Elves.

So, does this mean the show is deviating even further from the original story? Showrunner Lauren Hissrich confirms that it is.

The showrunner told Entertainment Weekly they’d assumed they wouldn’t see the character again after the first season. But then, while brainstorming in the writers’ room, they started considering bringing Witchers back into the story, realizing they needed the character Vesemir for future storylines.

We don’t yet know exactly what Vesemir’s role will be in the next installment, but Mullan seems like a great choice to play the leader of the Witchers. It remains to be seen if the changes made to the story and characters will be successful, but hopefully they’ll work out well.

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2025-10-30 11:07