The Witcher season 4 will introduce yet another villain, but this one is not only one of the most terrifying bad guys in this universe, but also the closest we will get to an evil Geralt of Rivia. Netflix’s The Witcher started strong in 2019 but has faced some controversies since season 2. The show has taken too many creative liberties with the characters and stories, and though season 3 fixed some problems, season 4 is facing even bigger ones. In addition to some dark storylines, The Witcher season 4 will be the debut of the new Geralt, Liam Hemsworth.

Vesemir will also go through a recast, and in terms of narrative, Ciri’s (Freya Allan) story is about to get darker now that she’s with the Rats, Emhyr’s plans will be set into motion, and Geralt and Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) will face new threats. Despite all these challenges and more, there’s also a lot to be excited about in The Witcher season 4. Various new characters will be introduced this season, both villains and allies, including major bad guy Leo Bonhart, who will be a huge shake-up for Ciri, Geralt, and Yennefer.

Who Is Leo Bonhart In The Witcher?

Leo Bonhart Is One Of The Witcher’s Scariest Villains

The Witcher season 4 will introduce two key villains: Stefan Skellen (James Purefoy) and Leo Bonhart (Sharlto Copley), and the latter is the one who will bring the most chaos and fear. Leo Bonhart made his debut in the novel Baptism of Fire, the one expected to be the main source for The Witcher season 4, and appeared in the subsequent novels The Tower of the Swallow and The Lady of the Lake. Bonhart is a bounty hunter and a former soldier from Ebbing, a state dependent on the Nilfgaardian Empire.

Bonhart carries three witcher medallions (from the School of the Wolf, School of the Cat, and School of the Griffin), meaning he killed their owners.

Bonhart was respected as a soldier and recognized for his professionalism, but he was also very expensive to hire. Bonhart showed his cruelty during his days as a soldier and is known for finding pleasure in inflicting pain on others and watching brutal massacres. Bonhart is also described as physically imposing, as he’s very tall and thin, with a grey mustache and cold, expressionless eyes. To add to his frightening reputation, Bonhart carries three witcher medallions (from the School of the Wolf, School of the Cat, and School of the Griffin), meaning he killed their owners.

Of course, as a bounty hunter, Bonhart also has a notable reputation as one to fear and who knows no limits to getting what he wants/needs. Bonhart’s story with Ciri, Yennefer, and Geralt begins when he’s hired by Skellen to kill Ciri while also being hired by Baron of Casadei to capture her alive. By then, Ciri has become part of the Rats, so Bonhart goes after the gang. Bonhart kills the Rats and cuts their heads off, but he doesn’t fulfill any of his contracts as he doesn’t kill Ciri nor does he bring her to Baron Casadei.

Skellen is hired by Emhyr var Emreis to bring him Ciri and Cahir, so he forms a gang of mercenaries and hires Bonhart.

Instead, Bonhart takes Ciri with him and imprisons her. Bonhart drugs her, beats her, and forces her to kill in the arena at Claremont. Some time later, Ciri escapes when they travel to the village of Unicorn, where Bonhart meets with Skellen and Rience. The three then go after her under the orders of Vilgefortz, but Ciri escapes thanks to the intervention of the Wild Hunt. Ciri and Bonhart confront each other one final time at Stygga Castle, where the Cintran Princess ultimately kills him after he tries to convince her to spare him.

Leo Bonhart’s Skills & Story Make Him A Dark Mirror Of Geralt

Leo Bonhart & Geralt Have Some Parallels

Geralt of Rivia can be ruthless when he has to be, especially when slaying monsters, but he’s not evil or cruel. Leo Bonhart, on the other hand, is truly evil and cruel, and won’t hesitate to kill humans, monsters, or whatever is in his way. Both Geralt and Bonhart are hired by those who require their services and are among the best in what they do. Geralt has a strong work ethic and morals, and has shown compassion on various occasions, and, surprisingly, despite being one of the cruelest people on the Continent, Bonhart has a firm moral compass of his own.

In the Witcher video games, Leo Bonhart is known as a legendary witcher slayer, capable of fighting witchers and mages.

While Geralt does what he does to keep Ciri safe and for the benefit and safety of others, Bonhart’s actions are selfish, as seen in how he doesn’t honor his contracts with Skellen and the Baron. Bonhart’s story with Ciri also makes him a dark mirror to Geralt, as he doesn’t take her to give her a home, instead mistreating her and taking advantage of her skills to force her into arena fights. Geralt won’t turn evil in The Witcher just like Bonhart won’t turn good, but he’ll be the closest there is to a dark and evil Geralt.

Is Leo Bonhart Stronger Than Geralt & Could He Beat Him In A Fight?

Bonhart vs Geralt Would Be Very Interesting

Given that Bonhart has a notable past as a soldier and has killed witchers before (at least, that’s implied by the medallions along with his well-known skills and temper), a fight between him and Geralt would be pretty even. Bonhart has no magical skills, so his skills come from strength and training. However, Geralt is not only a witcher but is considered above fellow witchers due to extra mutations. It’s also important to keep in mind that the identities and circumstances around the witchers Bonhart supposedly killed are unknown, so there’s no record of how powerful they were.

Bonhart might be as strong as Geralt, but the witcher would still end up winning the fight, which wouldn’t be an easy or quick one at all.

Even if they had been powerful witchers, it’s unlikely they were at the level of or above Geralt, and his many mutations and enhancements still give him the upper hand. Bonhart might be as strong as Geralt, but the witcher would still end up winning the fight, which wouldn’t be an easy or quick one at all.

Leo Bonhart Should Be A Villain Through To The Witcher Season 5

The Witcher Needs A True, Big Villain

The Witcher has a couple of bad guys but none feel like the big villain of the show just yet. Cahir was the villain of season 1 but has now become an ally, the White Flame’s plans haven’t been revealed yet, Rience is now dead, and Vilgefortz has just shown his true colors in the second part of season 3. Leo Bonhart can be the big villain The Witcher has been lacking, but he can’t be a one-season villain given his role in the books and Ciri’s story.

The Witcher will end with its fifth season, and given that Bonhart’s story covers more than one book, it’s only fair that he will remain a villain through season 5. However, it’s to be seen how The Witcher will change Bonhart’s story, but hopefully, he will be the same cruel and terrifying villain that he is in the books.