Rumors suggest Max Parker is in talks to play Baldur, while Ólafur Darri Ólafsson is being considered for Thor in Prime Video's live-action God of War adaptation. The series, which has a two-season order, focuses on Kratos and Atreus from the recent PlayStation games. These casting developments come amid ongoing production updates for the project.
Casting Rumors
According to entertainment scooper Daniel Richtman, via GameFragger.com, Max Parker, known for his role in Vampire Academy, is in talks to portray Baldur, a key antagonist in the 2018 God of War game. Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, recognized from Severance, is reportedly being considered for Thor, who becomes prominent in the sequel, God of War Ragnarök. These characters draw from Norse mythology, with Baldur cursed by his mother Freya to feel nothing, driving his pursuit of Kratos and Atreus, and Thor serving as Odin's enforcer burdened by his past actions.
Series Background
Prime Video's adaptation, developed by Ronald D. Moore as showrunner, writer, and executive producer since last fall, adapts the Norse era of the franchise. It centers on father and son Kratos and Atreus embarking on a journey to spread the ashes of Faye, Kratos' wife and Atreus' mother. Emmy-winning director Frederick E.O. Toye is set to helm the first two episodes. The project has a two-season commitment and aims to capture the games' emotional depth and epic scope.
Moore has emphasized honoring the source material: "The tone of the show is trying to emulate the tone of the game, which is there's this epic journey, this heartfelt story of these two men setting out on this thing to honor the memory of his wife, Atreus’ mother." He added, "We want to honor the game and what they laid out for Atreus’ journey."
No casting has been confirmed for Kratos, though Dave Bautista remains a popular fan choice. While some fans prefer adapting the Greek mythology-focused early games, the Norse storyline offers rich potential. Deadline recently noted that casting for Kratos and Atreus is underway.