The Witcherseason 3 concluded with many questions about the main characters' fates. As Geralt, Jaskier, and Milva set out to rescue Ciri from Nilfgaard, Ciri has joined up with a group of misfits calling themselves The Rats. Meanwhile, there is unrest among the surviving sorcerers of Aretuza, and Fringilla’s alliance with the elves comes to an end after Francesca discovers the truth of her baby’s death. Along with the recasting ofLiam Hemsworth as Geraltafter Henry Cavill’s exit,The Witcherseason 4 has a lot of story to tell, and will introduce a new character named Regis.
Along with big changes on and off screen,The Witcherseason 4brings in Laurence Fishburne as the mysterious Regis. While Fishburne hasn’t done a ton of fantasy, much of his filmography includes films in fantasy’s cousin genre, sci-fi. Most notably, he played Morephus inThe Matrixfilms. There’s alsoMan of SteelandBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,where he played Perry White. Fishburne also appeared in Netflix’sThe School for Good and Evil. With his experience, the veteran actor is sure to bring a certain class and nuance to the role of Regis.
Who Is Regis In The Witcher Books?
Regis Is A Vampire With Whom Geralt Aligns
The character’s name is Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy, but he prefers Regis.Regis first appeared inBaptism of Fire, the third book in the Witcher seriesby Andrzej Sapkowski. Geralt meets Regis during his search for Ciri, and Regis decides to join the witcher and his companions. At first,Regis appears to be a simple healer, but eventually, it’s revealed that he’s a vampire, albeit one who has given up drinking blood. Although Geralt is hesitant to trust Regis at first, the two become good friends. In time, Regis’s help proved essential in the fight against the sorcerer, Vilgefortz.
Geralt’s relationship with Regis is a complicated one. Regis’s vampiric nature categorizes him as a monster, and it’s Geralt’s duty as a witcher to neutralize such a threat. However, Regis proves that not only is he an asset, but also a loyal friend. He offers Geralt sage advice when needed, and his abilities as a vampire make him a powerful ally against their enemies. Through Regis, Geralt learns that not all “monsters” are truly what they appear to be.
Who Is Regis In The Witcher Video Games?
Regis Is A Major Factor In The Player Determining Dettlaff’s Fate
Regis is also an important character in theBlood and Winevideo game expansion ofThe Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt.In the story, Geralt travels to Toussaint in search of a monster which turns out to be a vampire serial killer named Dettlaff van der Eretein. Geralt then runs into his old friend, Regis, who is protecting Dettlaff after the other vampire saved his life. Regis goes on to aid Geralt in his search for the motive behind the savage murders, and plays a big part in the choices that the player must make in deciding Dettlaff’s fate.
Regis’s role inBlood and Wineis not only a fun callback for fans of the books but also goes deeper in the video game. He offers Geralt a conduit into the dark world of vampires, and adds complexity to the overall plot. Without Regis, Geralt only knows Dettlaff as a killer who needs to be destroyed, rather than the victim of tragic circumstances.Not only does Regis help Geralt navigate his quest, but he also offers him companionship and perspective.
What To Expect From Laurence Fishburne’s Regis In The Witcher Season 4
The Veteran Actor Has Experience Playing “World-Wise” Roles
In an announcement fromEntertainment Weeklyin January 2024, Regis is described as “a world-wise Barber-surgeon with a mysterious past who joins Geralt on his journey in season 4." Luckily, Laurence Fishburne is no stranger to portraying “world-wise” roles. AsMorpheus inThe Matrixmovies, Fishburne portrays a shrewd leader and a mentor to Neo. There’s also his role in theJohn Wickfilmsas the Bowery King, the leader of an underground spy ring, and as the curmudgeonly Pops in the ABC sitcomBlack-ish.Both of these roles had Fishburne playing the wizened elder, offering adviceand aid to others.
Fishburne’s casting came with an official statement from the actor: “I’m very excited to be joining the cast and look forward to exploring the wondrous world of The Witcher.” While his statement was kept purposefully vague, it’s probable thatThe Witcherseason 4 will follow the outline of Sapkowsi’s books in regards to Regis. As far as Fishburne’s portrayal of Regis inThe Witcherseries, his previous roles suggest that he will do right by the fan-favorite character.
The Witcher
Cast
The Witcher, released in 2019, follows Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster hunter navigating a turbulent world where humanity’s darker nature often eclipses the monstrous.
