5 Times Popular Shows Successfully Recast Characters

Season Four of Netflix's The Witcher is about to premiere, but things will look a little different this time around. After three seasons playing the lead role of Geralt of Rivia, Henry Cavill chose to step away from the series. Liam Hemsworth will step into the role for seasons four and five, already confirmed to be the show's last.

Cavill was popular in the role of Geralt, and some fans fear how the show will fare following his departure, and wonder whether concern over reception to the character's recasting has contributed to Netflix's decision to end the show at season five, despite the large amount of novel and video game content that could still be adapted.

However, if things do work out, The Witcher would not be the first show to successfully navigate a major casting change. Here are some of the other times popular shows have successfully navigated cast changes.

1. Darrin Stevens in 'Bewitched'

Perhaps the most famous example of such an ocuurence is the character of Darrin Stephens in the classic sitcom, Bewitched. For the show's first five seasons, Dick York starred as Darrin, the Mortal Husband of the series witch lead, Samantha Stephens, played by Elizabeth Montgomery. York was popular in the role, often earning praise for his highly expressive face, which added to the series humour.

However, York had suffered a back injury on a film set a few years before being cast in Bewitched, and by the latter part of season three, the injury was aggravated, leading to a painful degenerative spine condition. Darrin was absent from multiple episodes across seasons four and five as a consequence of York's deteriorating health, and after an onset collapse, the actor resigned.

Dick Sargent stepped into the role of Darrin Stephens in seasons six through eight. The recast was successful in the sense that it wasn't a death-knell for the show. Bewitched continued for three seasons after Dick York's departure. However, for many fans, York will always be the better of the two Darrins.

2. Alexis Carrington in the 'Dynasty' Reboot

When classic primetime Soap Opera Dynasty was rebooted in 2017, TV reviewers eagerly awaited the arrival of family patriarch Blake Carrington's conniving first wife, Alexis, who had been played by the iconic Joan Collins in the original series. Most were pleased with the choice of former Desperate Housewives star Nicollette Sheridan as Alexis, who guest starred in a few season one episodes before becoming a regular season two.

However, towards the end of the Dynasty reboot's second season, Sheridan chose to leave the series in order to spend time with her terminally ill Mother. So, Alexis's long-lost son Adam shoved her face into a fireplace. The writers then crafted a story arc in which Adam, a Doctor, hijacked his Mother's reconstructive surgery so she emerged looking like her daughter, Fallon, with Fallon's actress, Elizabeth Gillies, to play the role in Alexis's temporary exit story until she could be officially recast.

Alexis returned, now played by Elaine Hendrix, in the reboot's third season, with Hendrix remaining in the role through to the end of the series. While both Alexis's have their fans, the truth is that in this case, the switch mostly worked because of Dynasty's roots in Soap Opera.

3. Daario Naharis in 'Game of Thrones'

First introduced in season three of Game of Thrones, Daario Naharis is a sellsword who betrays his company, the Second Sons, in favour of helping Queen Daenerys Targaryen conquer and liberate the slave city of Yunkai. Initially, Daario was played by Ed Skrein. However, Skrein gave up the role in favour of appearing as the main villain in the first Deadpool film.

From season four onwards, Michael Huisman plays Daario. While Skrein was a marginally better match for the character's description in George R.R Martin's novels, most fans prefer Huisman's portrayal, seeing him as a better match for the loyal friend, ally, and sometimes lover of Daenerys that Daario Naharis eventually becomes.

4. Reggie Mantle in 'Riverdale'

Riverdale, a series offering a modern day, and at times rather dark reimagining of the classic Archie comics, proved a surprise hit with audiences when it began airing in 2017. During the show's first season, Reggie Mantle, rival to Archie Andrews and Riverdale High's resident bully, was played by Ross Butler. However, when Reggie's role was increased in season two, Butler could no longer commit to both Riverdale and his existing major role in the Netflix drama 13 Reasons Why.

For the rest of Riverdale's run, Reggie was played by Charles Melton. However, Butler briefly returned in season six as an alternate Reggie from the parrallel universe of 'Rivervale'.

Most fans express a preference towards Charles Melton's Reggie, but in Butler's defense, this is mostly because Melton had more time to develop Reggie beyond the typical bully he had been in the first season.

5. The Doctor in 'Doctor Who'

When then lead actor William Hartnell's health began to deteriorate three years into the run of future scifi classic Doctor Who, the BBC was left with a dilemma: Either recast The Doctor, or end the series entirely. Ultimately, the decision was made to recast, with Patrick Troughton stepping into the role. However, instead of switching the actors without comment and hoping fans would adjust, as was more common practice for recasting at the time, Hartnell's Doctor collapsed, transforming into Troughton's onscreen before viewers' eyes.

This process eventually became known as Regeneration, allowing The Doctor to be recast with a new actor every few years. Each Doctor, while being basically the same person at heart, has their own quirks, and sense of style. As explained quite aptly in Doctor Who's 5oth Anniversary special, 'Day of The Doctor':

"Same software, Different case."

The concept of regeneration has driven Doctor Who's longevity, in what is easily the most successful character recast in television history.

Time will tell how Liam Hemsworth's Geralt of Rivia will stack up.