Prime Video officially announced today that Ryan Hurst has been cast as Kratos in the upcoming God of War live-action series from Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios.
The casting brings Hurst back to the franchise after previously voicing Thor in God of War Ragnarök, a performance that earned him a BAFTA nomination.
Now he steps into the lead role as the Ghost of Sparta himself, marking the first major casting announcement for the highly anticipated adaptation.
The series follows Kratos and his ten-year-old son Atreus as they embark on a journey to spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye.
Through their adventures, Kratos attempts to teach his son to be a better god, while Atreus tries to teach his father how to be a better human.
The show will closely follow the path of the last two God of War games released in 2018 and 2022, focusing on the father-son dynamic that breathed new life into the legendary franchise.
A perfect fit for the God of War
Hurst brings serious credentials to the role. Best known for playing Opie Winston in FX’s Sons of Anarchy and the villainous Beta in The Walking Dead, the actor has proven his ability to embody physically imposing characters with emotional depth.
His recent work includes Netflix’s The Abandons, reuniting him with Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter, and he’s set to appear in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, hitting theaters July 17. His filmography also includes Remember the Titans, Saving Private Ryan, and We Were Soldiers.
Santa Monica Studio, the game’s developer, reacted to the casting by stating they’re excited to see Hurst’s take on Kratos as he joins the legendary ranks of T.C. Carson and Christopher Judge, who have each shaped the character in unforgettable ways across the game franchise’s ten installments.
Behind the scenes firepower
The series received a two-season order from Prime Video, with pre-production currently underway in Vancouver and casting officially begun.
Emmy-winning director Frederick E.O. Toye, who took home the award for his work on Shōgun’s “Crimson Sky” episode, will direct the first two episodes. Toye is no stranger to Prime Video, having helmed multiple episodes of The Boys and Fallout, making him an ideal choice to establish the series’ tone.
Ronald D. Moore serves as showrunner, writer, and executive producer under his Tall Ship Productions banner. Moore took over the project in late 2024 after original showrunner Rafe Judkins departed, leading a creative overhaul that revitalized the production.
The show was originally greenlit in December 2022, and Moore’s arrival kicked things into high gear. God of War is co-produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios in association with PlayStation Productions.
Additional executive producers include Maril Davis, Cory Barlog, Naren Shankar, Matthew Graham, Asad Qizilbash, Jeff Ketcham, Hermen Hulst, Roy Lee, and Brad Van Arragon, with Joe Menosky, Marc Bernardin, Tania Lotia, and Ben McGinnis serving as co-executive producers.
No release date has been announced yet.
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