4. Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Yes, the guy we all cheered for as he donned a wetsuit and bashed up baddies in Kickass. Or perhaps you recall him zooming around as Quicksilver in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Or better yet, maybe you literally just saw him in the new trailer for his upcoming movie, Kraven the Hunter. Well, he’s not just about spandex and super speed. Cast your mind back to his performance as Douglas in The Outlaw King, where he stepped into the muddied boots of a medieval warrior. He wielded his sword with conviction and nailed the fight choreography, a skill that’s not just handy, but essential for anyone stepping into the role of Geralt.
But there’s more to Geralt than his well-honed fighting prowess. He’s a man of many layers, a rugged exterior wrapped around a soft, caring core. He’s the gruff father figure to Ciri, and yes, he’s a bit of a hopeless romantic too. Taylor-Johnson could very well channel that tender side of his, giving depth and dimension to Geralt’s character. Despite being younger than Cavill, he shares the same age bracket as Hemsworth, so the calendar isn’t a deal-breaker here.
3. Alexander Skarsgård
Picture Alexander Skarsgård, True Blood heartthrob and the man behind the complex character in Big Little Lies, swapping his charming smirk for a monster-slayer scowl. Doesn’t quite click right away, does it? But that’s where the beauty of acting and transformation comes in. Who knew that beneath the smooth veneer of Eric Northman or the conflicted demeanor of Perry Wright lay a solid contender for our gruff Witcher, Geralt of Rivia?
Yet, Skarsgård’s performance in Robert Eggers’s The Northman showed us that the talent we’ve come to love has many layers yet to be discovered. Not only did Skarsgård deliver some top-notch fight scenes, but his nuanced, emotive expressions truly made his character come alive.
Geralt, with his stoic facade masking a sea of complex emotions, needs an actor who can say more with a look than a lengthy dialogue – and Skarsgård has proven he can do just that. And let’s not forget the physical attributes; standing tall and strong, Skarsgård already resembles our beloved monster hunter.