The live-action TV adaptation of “God of War” is taking shape and fans will have a very familiar face to look forward to. Prime Video’s next series has been known to be in development since its 2022 announcement, when we first learned it would at least partially focus on recounting the events of the game “God of War Ragnarök” 2018. This epic Greek-flavored saga has since kept us all in suspense on all facets of the production, most recently involving the well-received news that ‘Star Trek’ Legend Ronald D. Moore Reportedly Taking Over the Series as Showrunner. Now, the most pressing question of all has finally been answered: which lucky actor will reprise the role of demigod hero Kratos himself? It turns out he’s someone the players know very well.
In a buzzy press release, it was announced that actor Ryan Hurst – yes, the same star behind the villainous Thor’s famous motion capture and voice performance in “Ragnarök” – will take over as the Spartan (by birth) Kratos in the TV adaptation. How are you that for a touch? The shock now puts an unexpected face to the name of the tortured protagonist, who sets out on a mission of revenge over the course of a franchise that spans 10 incredibly popular PlayStation games. According to the workshop:
“In ‘God of War,’ the live-action series, his story will closely follow the path of the last two games as he deals with something new: his 10-year-old son Atreus. This father-son dynamic has started a whole new chapter in the legendary series and will be the heartbeat of the new series.”
The series has already been greenlit for two seasons and casting for the rest of the ensemble is currently underway.
Ryan Hurst could be the perfect casting for Kratos in God of War
Who better to play one of the most popular heroes in all of video games than someone who plays the villain? The casting of Ryan Hurst in “God of War” will surely turn a lot of heads but, even if few of us had this in our personal fan-casts for Kratosthe inspired choice seems to bode well for the project. Having brought Thor to life with so much acclaim in the game universe, Hurst’s portrayal of the villain in a world he knows well – and taking into account his own physicality as an actor with plenty of screen presence – should quickly put aside any real concerns about whether he can convincingly portray the world-weary hero. Outside of the video game scene, Hurst is known for his live-action roles in titles such as “Remember the Titans”, the FX series “Sons of Anarchy”, “The Walking Dead” and most recently in Netflix’s “The Abandons.”
According to the official press release, the series adaptation will follow “father and son Kratos and Atreus as they embark on a journey to spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye. Through their adventures, Kratos tries to teach his son to be a better god, while Atreus tries to teach his father how to be a better human.” Diehards know that the role requires a mix of bloodthirsty rage and emotional depth, which Hurst should be able to balance here. The fan favorite has always been defined by his larger-than-life piety and the simple (often grumpy) father/son dynamic he shares with Atreus at the same time, which is precisely what has led to so many internet memes.
No release date for the Prime Video series “God of War” has yet been announced.
