God of War TV Series Casts Ryan Hurst as Kratos

Prime Video dropped a casting bombshell yesterday. Ryan Hurst snagged the role of Kratos in their God of War adaptation.

The choice blindsided plenty of folks. Leaked shortlists from December had names like Jason Momoa, Travis Fimmel, and Winston Duke floating around. Nobody saw Hurst coming, which makes the decision all the more fascinating.

Here's the twist. Hurst already voiced Thor in God of War Ragnarök. He earned a BAFTA nomination for that performance too. Now he's switching sides, trading Mjölnir for the Leviathan Axe. The man knows this universe inside out.

From Biker to God Killer

You probably know Hurst from other roles. His turn as Opie Winston in Sons of Anarchy made him a household name. That seven-season run on FX established him as someone who brings genuine weight to intense characters. The Walking Dead fans remember him as Beta, the masked Whisperer who terrified audiences from 2019 to 2020.

His filmography goes deeper though. Remember the Titans featured him as linebacker Gerry Bertier opposite Denzel Washington. Saving Private Ryan, We Were Soldiers, and The Ladykillers all benefited from his presence. The guy stands 6'6" tall and brings physical intensity paired with surprising emotional range.

Christopher Judge gave Hurst his blessing on Twitter. "Congrats Ryan!!!! You're gonna be great... BOI !!!" Judge voiced Kratos in the 2018 reboot and Ragnarök. His support carries serious weight with fans who might feel protective over the character.

What We Know About the Show

Ronald D. Moore is running things. The Battlestar Galactica and Outlander showrunner took over after Rafe Judkins departed in October 2024. Moore brings massive genre credentials to the table.

The series adapts the Norse-era games. Father and son Kratos and Atreus embark on their journey to spread Faye's ashes. Through their adventures, Kratos tries teaching his son to be a better god whilst Atreus tries teaching his father to be a better human. That relationship dynamic forms the show's emotional core.

Prime Video already ordered two full seasons. Production starts March 2026 in Vancouver. Frederick E.O. Toye will direct the first two episodes. His résumé includes Shōgun, The Boys, and Fallout, so he understands both spectacle and character work.

Santa Monica Studio creative director Cory Barlog sits in as executive producer. Moore praised Barlog's encyclopaedic knowledge of the franchise during a Comic-Con appearance. That level of involvement should keep things authentic.

The Casting Makes Sense

Fan reactions split down the middle. Some questioned whether Hurst fits the Ghost of Sparta physically. Others pointed to his proven track record playing complex, violent characters searching for redemption. Sound familiar?

His Ragnarök experience gives him a crucial advantage. He understands the tone, the stakes, and the mythology. Working with the motion capture technology means he knows what these productions demand. Plus, his Thor already existed in this exact world.

The show skips the Greek mythology games entirely. No Ares, no Zeus, no chains of Olympus. Smart move, honestly. Starting fresh with the Norse saga lets them build without drowning in backstory. Flashbacks might fill in gaps where needed.

Casting for Atreus and other roles continues. Mimir, Brok, Sindri, and Freya all need actors. Those announcements should arrive soon if filming kicks off in two months.

Prime Video keeps stacking video game adaptations. Fallout crushed it critically and commercially. The Tomb Raider series with Sophie Turner is coming. Mass Effect and Life Is Strange adaptations are in development. They're clearly investing heavily in this space.

Hurst recently wrapped Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey alongside Matt Damon and Tom Holland. The timing works perfectly for him to dive into God of War next. He's also fresh off The Abandons, a Netflix western from Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter.

No release date yet. With March 2026 filming, expect the show sometime in 2027 at the earliest. Post-production on something this effects-heavy takes ages.

The real question now is whether Hurst brings the rage. Kratos is all controlled fury beneath a stoic surface. Opie Winston had that same quality - menacing exterior hiding deep pain. If Hurst channels that energy into the Ghost of Sparta, this adaptation might surprise everyone.

Judge's endorsement matters. The man owns this character in modern gaming. His approval signals something worth paying attention to. Plus, having Thor himself play Kratos creates a weird bit of symmetry that fans of the games will appreciate.

This casting reveals Amazon and Sony Pictures Television aren't playing safe. They could have gone with a bigger name for marketing purposes. Instead, they chose an actor who genuinely understands the source material and can disappear into intense roles. That decision deserves respect.

Production starts in eight weeks. Your move, Boy.