The Witcher season four has introduced a number of new characters to the hit Netflix series
Peter Harris Live Content Editor
17:24, 31 Oct 2025
*Warning: This article contains minor spoilers for The Witcher season four*
The fourth season of Netflix’s fantasy series, The Witcher, has returned with several key characters from the original books making their first appearance.
Drawing heavily from Andrzej Sapkowski’s fifth novel, Baptism of Fire, audiences will meet a unique vampire named Emiel Regis.
It may seem odd that Geralt, a monster hunter, would count a vampire among his closest allies, but there’s a good reason for it. But who exactly is Regis?
What role does he play in The Witcher’s narrative and who portrays him on screen? And how does his character differ in the book? Here’s everything you need to know.
Regis is introduced in the fifth book(Image: Netflix)READ MORE: Will there be a season 5 of The Witcher? Dramatic final episode explainedREAD MORE: Who plays Leo Bonhart in The Witcher season four?
Who is Emiel Regis in The Witcher?
In both The Witcher series and books, Emiel Regis is a higher vampire, meaning he belongs to an upper class and appears more human-like. Regis is a nobleman who was born a vampire, rather than being transformed from human form by a bite, reports the Mirror.
His full name is Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy and, being over 400 years old when he encounters Geralt, he is highly educated and knowledgeable in various fields. One such field is medicine, as he practices as a barber surgeon.
In the original books, Geralt is quick to identify Regis’ true nature but due to his own code of honour, he never wishes him harm, recognising that he poses no threat. Instead, Geralt appreciates Regis for his intelligence and medical skills, seeing him as a valuable addition to his group.
This decision is further solidified by the fact that Regis has given up human blood. His reasons for doing so are similar in both the series and the books, with one key difference.
In an episode, Regis recounts how his drinking spiralled out of control until one fateful night when he fell into a well. A young woman rescues him and they fall in love.
However, his old friends, feeling neglected, kidnap and feed on her, triggering Regis into a fit of rage that results in the death of his friends and his beloved.
In the books, after falling into the well, he is discovered by local villagers who attempt to kill him. They stab him with stakes and decapitate him.
However, none of these actions are sufficient to kill a higher vampire, and he spends the next 50 years regenerating and recovering.
Laurence Fishburne takes on the role(Image: NETFLIX)
Who plays Regis in The Witcher?
The character of Regis in The Witcher season four is portrayed by iconic Hollywood actor Laurence Fishburne. Fans were thrilled with the casting, as the character requires a certain kind of presence that Fishburne is renowned for exuding effortlessly.
Fishburne is best known for his role as Morpheus in the original Matrix trilogy, where he starred opposite Keanu Reeves’ Neo. He has also featured in classic films such as Boyz n the Hood and Apocalypse Now.
He earned an Oscar nomination for his depiction of Ike Turner in the film, What’s Love Got To Do With It, a biographical film centred on the life of singer Tina Turner. Since 2017, he has portrayed Bowery King in the John Wick series.
The Witcher is streaming on Netflix.
