Fallout,The Last of Us,Cyberpunk 2077, and nowGod of War;it seems like just about every major game series is receiving a streaming adaptation. Video games are arguably the most popular they’ve ever been, being a major source of entertainment during the onset of the global pandemic as well as gaining exponential prominence in the cultural zeitgeist over the past decade. It only makes sense to probe some of the mostpopular game seriesfor franchise opportunities. Seeing as we’re now decades removed from box-office stinkers like theStreet Fightermovie, it’s refreshing to see franchises with genuinely engaging stories get a shot at entertaining a wider audience.
God of Waris no exception. A mind-blowing series that continually pushed the technological and tasteful boundaries of the consoles it inhabited,God of Warfollows the somber adventure of Kratos, a former Spartan warrior whose path of revenge ends with him slaughtering the entire mythology of Greece, before ultimately entering a quest for redemption in ancient Norway. There’s a lot to cover in a series adaptation, leading many to speculate what exactly they want to see fromtheGod of Warseries.
Casting Kratos Might Be Difficult
The leading role of Kratos has to be absolutely perfect. Kratos is the centerpiece of the franchise, the one character whose growth and evolution across the series have been the main focus apart from the copious violence. It won’t be easy finding someone to capture what exactly makes Kratos a compelling character. We need someone who’s seen a lifetime of suffering, someone who committed thousands of heinous acts with a rage comparable to that of a burning sun, with all of it hidden under a mournful contemplation.
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The difficulty in doing so is that Kratos' voice actor, Christopher Judge, practically is Kratos. His voice has been with the character since 2018, and for many, the deep, bass-filled voice perfectly captures the subdued, reflective Kratos found in the franchise’s modern games.
It’s unlikely that Judge will reprise his role for the adaptation, despite performing some motion capture work for the games. Since theGod of Warseries won’t be animated, according to a report byIGN, Judge likely can’t replicate the frantic physicality Kratos embodies due to a variety of factors.
Jason Momoa is one of the closest resemblances to Kratos in terms of physical appearance. The actor has played a variety of dramatic roles that gives him the ability to portray Kratos well, from a leading role inApple TV+‘sSeeto the intimidating role of Kahl Drogo in the early seasons ofGame of Thrones. Momoa is used to fantasy settings with their own fair share of violence, so he’s a viable choice in portraying the fallen Spartan warrior.
Dave Bautista is also a noteworthy pick for Kratos, seeing as how he also shares similarities with the character and has some Greek ancestry to boot. However, his personal interest appears to be set on the upcomingGears of Warfilmin development at Netflix.
Kratos’ Past and Present Should Be Covered
According to a report byDeadline, the series is set to cover the story of Kratos in the 2018God of Wargame, meaning we won’t necessarily get a look at his past adventures in Greece. It makes sense to do this. The story of the game already lends itself well to the structure and pacing of a series, and since it can be enjoyed without prior knowledge of the previous games in the series, it’s a great starting point for a new audience.
But to leave out Kratos' past is to miss out on some of the most impactful moments from the game. A big conflict in the story involves Kratos trying his hardest to keep his past hidden away from his new life. Only when he becomes pushed to the absolute limit does he trade out the Norse-inspired Leviathan Axe for the Blades of Chaos, his signature weapon still stained with the blood of Zeus and other Greek gods. If the audience doesn’t have the right context for this, it won’t hit nearly as hard as it did for those who played through the original games.
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Outside of this, the series also presents an ample opportunity to build the relationship between Kratos and his son, Atreus. The game did so primarily through gameplay, with certain story beats being played out through in-game cinematics. A series allows for Kratos and Atreus to interact more naturally, expanding on the quieter moments in the 2018 game. For example, during the many times the player had to steer a boat between objectives, the duo would frequently converse about the world and the current circumstances. It’s a good way to explore the two’s relationship while giving them depth naturally.
Fans of the series from the very first game will likely tell you that they cared more about the action than the overall story. It’s not entirely a bad thing for a video game, but 2018 marked a significant shift away from the nonstop action that the previous mainlineGod of Wargames offered, instead telling a more intimate story with Kratos finding himself as caretaker for a new family.
For those who are interested in the world beyond Kratos and Atreus, there’s a lot to explore. Lore entries throughout the entire series detail the various information related to the Gods and creatures of the world, and while Kratos tends to rip through them on short notice, a series would be a great opportunity to expand how, for example, Greek and Norse Gods exist in the same universe.
There is no current release date for theGod of Warseries. However, more details about the production are sure to follow in the coming months.
