The invention relates to the use of a laminin (LN) as a matrix for hepatic differentiation. The invention also relates to a method for inducing hepatic differentiation comprising the steps of: (i) providing a population of human pluripotent cells, (ii) culturing the population on a support coated with a laminin in a endoderm induction medium to produce a population of human DE cells, (iii) culturing said population of human DE cells on a support coated with a laminin in a hepatic induction medium to produce a population of human hepatoblasts-like cells, and (iv) optionally culturing said population of human hepatoblasts-like cells on a support coated with a laminin in a hepatic maturation medium to produce a population of human hepatocyte-like cells. The invention further relates to a population of human hepatoblasts-like cells or human fetal hepatocyte-like cells obtained by the method of the invention. The invention further relates to a population of human hepatoblasts-like cells expressing HNF4α and expressing substantially AFP for use in a method of treatment of the human body.