With Amazon’s God of War confirmed, and the Greek trilogy remake also on the way, the franchise has arguably never been stronger. Although the original games were met with a positive reception, the 2018 revival alongside its sequel, God of War: Ragnarök, took the series to new heights, suggesting the future was extremely bright for this IP.
The content kept on coming with God of War Sons of Sparta‘s surprise release, and the GOW 6 leaks have kept fans talking, giving this upcoming show the perfect platform to succeed. Unfortunately, despite how exciting Prime Video’s God of War sounds on paper, there is already a lot of concern after seeing the adaptation’s official first look.
Amazon Has Officially Shared A First Look At God Of War
Having been ordered all the way back in December 2022, God of War fans finally got their first taste of what to expect in this live-action project. The official first look image showcases Ryan Hurst as Kratos, overseeing Callum Vinson’s Atreus in a forest while the duo is out hunting, a direct nod to the God of War reboot’s opening sequence.
We know that Prime Video’s take on this franchise will adapt the Norse era, with the series supposedly set to closely follow the 2018 game and its sequel. Naturally, there may be some narrative changes here and there alongside a few additions, but it’s gearing up to be more akin to HBO’s The Last of Us than Amazon’s Fallout story-wise.
While a faithful adaptation is admirable — especially since these games were widely praised for their plot and themes — it does mean Ryan Hurst’s Kratos will be directly compared to Christopher Judge’s, who expressed interest in playing the live-action version of this iconic character.
Considering Hurst is already an active part of the franchise — having played Thor in God of War: Ragnarök — he feels like an ideal fit to bring Kratos to life, a sentiment Judge even echoed himself. Hurst’s size also makes him a far more believable Kratos than most, yet not everyone is buying him as this legendary figure.
It may seem far too early to judge Hurst’s portrayal, especially since we haven’t even heard a line of dialogue yet. However, that hasn’t stopped the internet from weighing in, and opinions are pretty split.
Why God Of War’s First Image Sparked Mixed Reactions
Like any show based on popular source material, God of War was always going to be scrutinized harshly since people loved the games so much. Therefore, with this first image not looking exactly how some people envisioned it, complaints were inevitable, and they are mainly aimed towards the actors not looking quite right in these roles.
As mentioned earlier, Hurst has the size to play Kratos, but he isn’t as bulky as this fictional behemoth, which is an important part of his character. Kratos has slain many gods throughout the series, and he’s killed plenty of other powerful beasts, a feat that simply wouldn’t be possible without his almost unimitable physique, which highlights his raw strength.
This meant finding an actor to match this was always going to be a challenge, and for some fans, Hurst’s early impression doesn’t give off that powerful vibe they associate with Kratos. The criticism of Callum Vinson’s version of Atreus has been milder, but there have still been a few jabs at him not fitting the part.
Prime Video’s God of War is currently filming.
Overall, the general tone and vibe just don’t quite feel like God of War based on the first-look image, with some commenting that the color grading needed adjusting, while others stated it looked AI-generated. That said, there was also plenty of praise for the accurate costume design, and there were numerous fans who liked how the duo looked.
The initial reaction to images like this has historically been very reactive, but this feedback is also important. Prime Video’s Fallout success proves God of War can work, as the platform knows how to do video game shows, and if tweaks can be made to appease this unhappy section of the audience, the adaptation’s potential remains extremely high.
After the loud reception, Ryan Hurst commented on the God of War backlash with a swift yet emphatic statement. As someone clearly passionate about not just the adaptation, but the source material as well, it’s clear Hurst has faith in what he and Prime Video are cooking, hence posting, “Don’t believe everything you see on the internet, kids.”
Considering it is an official photo, Hurst’s comment clearly isn’t about the authenticity of the image. Instead, he may be indicating that this is far from the final product, as it could easily be a set photo or test footage, meaning that by the time all the visual effects, lighting, and other amendments are in place, the show could look much different.
Assuming this is the case, some blame still falls on Prime Video’s shoulders, as this was clearly put out to generate excitement. That said, Hurst’s quiet confidence that God of War will look how fans envisioned when it’s finally ready should ease some worries, but the pressure is now on for this adaptation to deliver.
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- Created by
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David Jaffe
- Upcoming TV Shows
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God of War
- Character(s)
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Kratos, Atreus, Athena (God of War), Ares (God of War), Zeus (God of War), Baldur, Thor (God of War), Freya (God of War)
- Video Game(s)
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God of War (2005), God of War II, God of War: Betrayal, God of War: Chains of Olympus, God of War III, God of War: Ghost of Sparta, God of War: Origins Collection, God of War: Ascension, God of War III: Remastered, God of War: A Call from the Wilds, God of War (2018), God of War Ragnarok
The God of War franchise is an action-adventure series that follows Kratos, a Spartan warrior, on his journey through Greek and Norse mythology. It is widely recognized for its intense combat, mythological storylines, and technical innovation. The series has received critical acclaim and numerous awards, making it one of PlayStation’s flagship properties.
