Ryan Hurst cast as Kratos in Amazon’s God of War series, raising concerns

Kotaku reports that Ryan Hurst has been cast as Kratos in Amazon’s upcoming God of War television adaptation, a choice that the outlet’s writer says gives them pause.

The piece outlines Kratos’ long, complicated arc in the games: from the 2005 origin as a vengeful Spartan with ashen skin, a Scott Ian–style goatee and chained blades, through a campaign that left the Greek pantheon decimated, to 2018’s reinvention of the character as a regretful, reflective father. It also highlights the 2023 Valhalla DLC moment in which old Kratos confronts his younger self, arguing that those two decades of baggage are central to what the show must capture and that good writing will be necessary to introduce Kratos to viewers unfamiliar with the games.

The writer praises Hurst’s past performances, including Sons of Anarchy and his Thor in God of War: Ragnarok, but questions whether Hurst has shown the specific explosive volatility and bloodlust that Kratos embodies. The piece also raises the point that Kratos is a dark olive-skinned Greek traditionally voiced by Black actors—an element the writer says adds texture to the character’s arc—and warns the series, even with Battlestar Galactica’s Ronald Moore attached, may be putting itself at a disadvantage unless it carefully plans how to embody those intangible elements.

Key Topics

Culture, Ryan Hurst, Kratos, Amazon, Ronald Moore, Christopher Judge