Inside Prime Video’s Epic New ‘God of War’ Series From the Producer of ‘Outlander’ (Exclusive)

The world of epic fantasy is expanding once again. One of the most successful video game franchises of the past two decades, God of War, is heading to television in a major new adaptation that will bring its sweeping mythology and emotionally driven storytelling to a much wider audience.

For longtime fans of the games, the story of the fierce warrior Kratos has always been about more than battles with gods and monsters. At its heart, it’s a story about redemption, grief and family, all of which are themes that will form the emotional core of the upcoming television series.

And according to writer and producer Ronald D. Moore in an exclusive interview, that deeply personal foundation is exactly what convinced him the project could work on television.

The emotional story at the heart of ‘God of War’

The television adaptation is expected to draw heavily from the critically acclaimed 2018 installment of the franchise, which reinvented the long-running series and shifted its mythology from ancient Greece to the world of Norse legend. At the center of the story is Kratos, a powerful warrior trying to live a quieter life with his young son, Atreus. When Atreus’ mother dies, the two set out on a dangerous journey to honor her final wish: to scatter her ashes from the highest mountain in the realm. It’s a story that begins with loss—and with a father and son who barely understand each other.

“Sony asked me if I would be interested in it,” Moore explains, “and I said, I knew the title because it’s a big famous title, but hey, I’m not a gamer, so I never played it. But I said, ‘Well, let me go take a look.’”

What he discovered quickly caught his attention.

“Then I started watching cut scenes of the characters and of the story,” he says. “And I was just very taken by the father/son of it all, because we’re starting with the 2018 game, which opens with Kratos and Atreus literally burning their mother’s body in a funeral pyre and they don’t know each other.”

The premise immediately struck him as a powerful entry point for a television series. “They’ve promised this woman who you’ve never met that they’re going to scatter her ashes from the top of the highest mountain in the realm,” details Moore. “And they set off with this quest.

“I thought that’s an incredibly emotional, really interesting way to start a story,” he adds. “And I thought that it’s perfect to open a TV series. And from there, I just kept watching the story and it builds a lot of interesting stuff and depth and mythology. I was just drawn to it, so it just became, like, ‘Yeah, I think this would be great.’”

A mythological world unlike any other

One of the defining elements of the God of War franchise has always been its use of mythology. Earlier entries in the series were rooted in Greek mythology, pitting Kratos against figures such as Zeus, Ares and the gods of Olympus. The 2018 game introduced a major shift, moving the story into Norse mythology and introducing legendary figures such as Odin, Thor and Baldur.

That mythological setting gives the television series a vast storytelling canvas, filled with ancient prophecies, supernatural creatures and powerful gods.

A creator known for building epic worlds

Moore’s involvement is another reason fans are watching the project closely. Over the course of his career—which began on Star Trek: The Next Generation and soared on the next series in the franchise, Deep Space Nine—he has helped create some of television’s most ambitious storytelling universes, including Battlestar Galactica, Outlander and For All Mankind.

Those projects all share a common thread: immersive worlds where large-scale stories are grounded in deeply human relationships. He says that that kind of storytelling challenge is exactly what appeals to him. “I like doing period,” he says, “whether it’s the future or the past.”

What excites him most, he explains, is the opportunity to create a world audiences can lose themselves in. “I like world-building in particular. Creating a place for the audience to go that’s not their day-to-day reality. I just find that interesting and fun and challenging.”

Who is in the cast?

The series has assembled a large ensemble cast to bring the world of Norse mythology to life.

Ryan Hurst (Kratos)
Kratos, the fierce Spartan warrior whose past continues to haunt him, will be played by Ryan Hurst. The actor is widely known for his roles on Sons of Anarchy and The Walking Dead. Hurst already has ties to the franchise, having previously voiced the thunder god Thor in the 2022 video game God of War Ragnarök.

Callum Vinson (Atreus)
Young actor Callum Vinson will portray Atreus, Kratos’s son and the emotional center of the story. The journey undertaken by Kratos and Atreus—both grieving the loss of Atreus’s mother — forms the foundation of the series’ narrative.

Mandy Patinkin (Odin)
Veteran stage and screen actor Mandy Patinkin takes on the role of Odin, the powerful and enigmatic ruler of the Norse gods.

Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (Thor)
Thor, the thunder god and one of the most formidable figures in Norse mythology, will be played by Icelandic actor Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, known for numerous international film and television roles.

Teresa Palmer (Sif)
Teresa Palmer portrays Sif, the goddess and wife of Thor.

Max Parker (Heimdall)
Max Parker will play Heimdall, the watchman of the gods and one of Odin’s loyal followers.

Ed Skrein (Baldur)
Ed Skrein takes on the role of Baldur, a mysterious and dangerous figure who becomes one of the central antagonists of the story.

Louis Cunningham (Modi)
Louis Cunningham portrays Modi, one of Thor’s sons.

Island Austin (Thrud)
Island Austin plays Thrud, another member of the Norse pantheon.

When will the series premiere?

The God of War television adaptation is currently in development for Amazon Prime Video in partnership with Sony Pictures Television and PlayStation Productions.

An official premiere date has not yet been announced, but anticipation for the project remains high among both television viewers and longtime fans of the games.

Why fans are excited

What ultimately sets God of War apart from many fantasy adventures is the emotional story at its core.

While the series promises epic mythology and large-scale action, the heart of the story remains the evolving relationship between Kratos and his son. For Moore, that personal dimension is what makes the project feel so compelling.