Amazon Prime Video is making significant strides in adapting video games for the screen. After working on Fallout and Mass Effect, the streaming service is now set to bring God of War to life as a live-action series. And, of course, the internet has already started in on its favorite hobby—fan casting.
Playing the part of Kratos isn’t just any acting gig. Whoever plays the role has to embody the bone-crushing physicality, deep-seated, almost fatherly rage, and surprising emotional depth that makes Kratos one of our [probably] most enshrined video game characters.
At first, it seemed that Jason Momoa was the obvious casting choice—because he is a man of unusual size and presence. Then, Nick Offerman threw the internet into chaos after sharing a bald-headed, bearded look, leading some to believe he was about to swap his Parks and Recreation humour for the Blades of Chaos. But now, there’s a new name in the mix, and honestly, it makes a lot of sense: Alan Ritchson.
Ritchson has been in various franchises over the years, playing many memorable roles. You may remember him as Raphael in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You may remember him as Hawk in Titans. And, most recently, you’ll see him as the unstoppable Jack Reacher in Amazon’s Reacher. He is massive and intimidating, and what is more, he has the acting chops to back it up. Kratos isn’t just about smashing through walls—though that helps—it’s about portraying a broken warrior burdened by his past. If Reacher has proven anything, it’s that Ritchson can do brooding intensity with ease. Maybe that’s why he is also a fan-favourite to play the DCU’s Batman.
Naturally, he’s not the only person vying for the role. Christopher Judge—who voices Kratos in the recent God of War games—has a great shot, especially since he already knows the character inside and out. Then there were those early rumors about Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, but those were quickly dismissed by the game’s director. Thank goodness.
Casting debates aside, the God of War series is officially in the works. At a 2022 investor meeting, Sony Pictures revealed that the series was in development. More recently, Amazon managed to secure a showrunner: Ronald D. Moore. If that name rings a bell, it should; he’s the guy responsible for a seemingly endless number of great TV series: Battlestar Galactica, Outlander, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Moore’s experience with this kind of storytelling makes him a good choice to adapt a series like God of War.
The real difficulty? Giving God of War‘s extensive mythology its due. Spanning both Greek and Norse legends, the series has served up one of gaming’s most electrifying character arcs. With an Amazon budget and Sony PlayStation backing, the potential is enormous.
But the leading question, of course, is this: Will Alan Ritchson be the one to wield the Blades of Chaos as God of War‘s Kratos? While he’d have to shave his head and maybe grow a massive beard to play Kratos, he’d easily pull off the look.
A God of War Reddit group suggested Ritchson as the perfect Kratos. The response? Mixed. “Alan Ritchson is literally the perfect choice for Kratos but of course they’re gonna use someone stupid like the Rock or Jason Mamoa,” wrote one redditor. “I thought Alan was a great Jack, I just don’t see him as Kratos,” wrote another. “Christopher Judge is getting older and Alan Ritchson is not bald, bearded or Greek,” argued one of the commentators.
Perhaps Amazon has someone else in mind. In any case, fans of God of War will keep a close watch.
RELATED: Amazon Prime’s God of War TV Series: Everything We Want To See
Tell us, would you like to see Alan Ritchson as Kratos in Amazon’s live-action God of War series?
