According to Deadline, Ryan Hurst has been cast as Kratos in a live-action God of War adaptation for Prime Video. The 6’6″, physically imposing actor doesn’t just have the right build to portray the Spartan warrior who fights gods—he has a history with the source material. Gamers will recognize Hurst from his BAFTA Award-nominated voice and motion-capture performance as Thor in God of War Ragnarök.
Kratos vs. Thor in God of War Ragnarok – Santa Monica Studios
Fans are hoping that his familiarity with the franchise will allow him to step into the role of Kratos with all the gravitas they feel the character deserves. As opposed to other actors who have often been floated for the part, like Dave Bautista and Dwayne Johnson, Hurst isn’t simply a big name looking to build his brand. He’s an actor with the physicality for the part and the familiarity with the mythology to bring Kratos to life.
Ryan Hurst on Talking Dead – YouTube, The Walking Dead
Though the project initially faced creative turmoil, there may now be reason for optimism for God of War as the rest of the pieces fall into place.
Preproduction Woes
Prime Video greenlit the God of War series at the end of 2022, with The Wheel of Time’s Rafe Judkins serving as showrunner and an executive producer. Oscar-nominated writers Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby were also signed on as producers and writers for the adaptation.
However, The Wheel of Time proved divisive, with BBC TV critic Scott Bryan calling it frustrating and saying that “it does that thing where it spends five minutes quickly explaining a world you don’t know with terminology you have never heard or really understand.”
Pictured (L-R): Zoë Robins (Nynaeve al’Meara), Barney Harris (Mat Cauthon), Daniel Henney (Lan Mondragoran), Rosamund Pike (Moiraine Damodred), Madeleine Madden (Egwene al’Vere), Josha Stradowski (Rand al’Thor), Marcus Rutherford (Perrin Aybara) in The Wheel of Time (2021), Amazon Studios
That may have been worrisome to fans of God of War, with its expansive world inspired by Greek and Norse mythology. However, Judkins and his team left the project in 2024 when Sony Pictures TV and Amazon MGM Studios decided to take it in a different creative direction. Ronald D. Moore (Outlander, Battlestar Galactica) was subsequently brought on as showrunner and executive producer. PlayStation Productions will be closely involved to ensure that the series remains close to the source material.
Hurst as Kratos is the first, and most significant God of War casting announcement. In addition to playing Thor in the God of War Ragnarök video game, he’s been a significant presence in film and television.
The Skills Required
One of Hurst’s early roles was defensive end Gerry Bertier in 2000’s Remember the Titans. But his breakout performance was as Opie Winston on FX’s outlaw motorcycle club drama, Sons of Anarchy. Both parts allowed him to showcase his physicality and an ability to convey emotional sincerity. He later appeared in twenty episodes of The Walking Dead, proving that he can work in ensemble genre television.
Along with his established familiarity and credibility with God of War, Hurst appears to have the skillset to portray Kratos.
Atreus and Kratos in God of War Ragnarok – Santa Monica Studios
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The series—which already has a two-season order—will be based on the two most recent games. According to the official press release, it will follow Kratos and his son Atreus on their journey to spread the ashes of Faye, Kratos’ wife and Atreus’ mother. “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.”
As the show continues its preproduction in Vancouver, more casting announcements are yet to come. However, many fans see the casting of Ryan Hurst as Kratos as a sign that God of War is moving in the right direction.
What do you think of Ryan Hurst’s casting as Kratos? Do you think the show will be true to the source material? Sound off in the comments!
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