Prime Video has announced that actor Ryan Hurst will portray Kratos in its upcoming live-action adaptation of the God of War video game franchise. Hurst, who previously voiced Thor in God of War Ragnarök, brings familiarity to the role in the two-season series. The show follows the father-son journey of Kratos and Atreus from the franchise's recent games.
Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios revealed on January 14, 2026, that Ryan Hurst has been cast as the lead role of Kratos in Prime Video's God of War TV series. Hurst, best known for playing Opie Winston in FX's Sons of Anarchy, returns to the God of War universe after voicing and providing the likeness for Thor in the 2022 video game God of War Ragnarök. His performance as the Norse god earned a BAFTA Award nomination.
The series, which has received a two-season order, is currently in pre-production in Vancouver, with filming set to begin in March 2026. It will closely follow the narrative of the last two God of War games, centering on Kratos—a Spartan warrior turned god—and his ten-year-old son Atreus as they embark on a quest to spread the ashes of Faye, Kratos's wife and Atreus's mother. Through their adventures in Norse mythology, Kratos aims to teach Atreus to be a better god, while Atreus helps his father become a better human. This father-son dynamic forms the emotional core of the story.
Kratos, the franchise's titular character, originated in the 2005 PlayStation game as a stoic warrior who made a fateful pact with Ares, the Greek god of war, sacrificing his family in exchange for victory. Over ten games, he has battled mortals, monsters, and deities, becoming an icon of pop culture for his combat prowess and tragic backstory. In the games, the role was first voiced by T.C. Carson, with Christopher Judge taking over from 2018's God of War onward. Santa Monica Studio, the game's developer, expressed excitement about Hurst's casting, noting he joins "the legendary ranks of T.C. Carson and Christopher Judge who have each shaped this character in unforgettable ways."
Ronald D. Moore, known for Battlestar Galactica and For All Mankind, serves as showrunner, writer, and executive producer. Emmy-winning director Frederick E.O. Toye, whose credits include Shōgun, The Boys, and Fallout, will helm the first two episodes. Executive producers include Maril Davis, Cory Barlog, Naren Shankar, Matthew Graham, Asad Qizilbash, Jeff Ketcham, Hermen Hulst, Roy Lee, and Brad Van Arragon, with co-executive producers Joe Menosky, Marc Bernardin, Tania Lotia, and Ben McGinnis. The production involves PlayStation Productions and Tall Ship Productions.
Hurst's recent projects include starring in Netflix's The Abandons and Disney+'s The Mysterious Benedict Society, as well as roles in The Walking Dead and Remember the Titans. He has just completed filming Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey opposite Matt Damon and Tom Holland.
