God of War Ragnarök’s Thor steps into the role of the Ghost of Sparta for Amazon’s live-action adaptation
Prime Video’s God of War live-action series has found its Ghost of Sparta. Ryan Hurst has officially been cast as Kratos, the indomitable warrior and man of few words at the heart of PlayStation’s iconic franchise, in the upcoming adaptation from Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios.
Hurst is no stranger to the world of God of War. He previously portrayed Thor in God of War Ragnarök, a performance that earned him a BAFTA Award nomination for his role. His return to the franchise — this time stepping into the role of Kratos himself — brings an added layer of familiarity and gravitas to the series.
Kratos is one of gaming’s most enduring and recognizable characters. Spartan by birth and god by nature, he was raised in a brutal martial culture before rising to command armies in service of his homeland. A fateful bargain with Ares, the Greek God of War, granted him victory in battle at the cost of his soul, setting Kratos on a tragic path defined by rage, loss, and redemption. Over the course of ten games, Kratos has slain mortals, monsters, and gods alike, becoming a pop culture icon known for his stoicism, unmatched combat prowess, and haunting past.
Hurst joins Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies, A Discovery of Witches) who recently joined its cast as Phoebe/Sif.
The Prime Video series will closely follow the events of the franchise’s most recent and narratively more mature chapters, shifting the focus to a more intimate and emotional story. In this new era, Kratos must navigate something entirely unfamiliar: fatherhood. Alongside his ten-year-old son Atreus, Kratos embarks on a journey to scatter the ashes of his wife, Faye. As they travel through a mythological world filled with danger and wonder, Kratos attempts to teach his son how to be a better god, while Atreus challenges his father to become a better human. This evolving father-son relationship will serve as the emotional core of the series.
Based on PlayStation’s massively popular mythology-inspired video games, God of War has already received a two-season order, with pre-production currently underway in Vancouver and casting now in progress.
The series is in strong creative hands, with Emmy Award-winning director Frederick E.O. Toye (Shōgun, The Boys, Fallout) set to direct the first two episodes. Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica, For All Mankind) serves as showrunner, executive producer, and writer. The project is co-produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios, in association with PlayStation Productions and Tall Ship Productions.
