The first official images of Ryan Hurst as Kratos and Callum Vinson as Atreus in Amazon’s upcoming live-action God of War series have been released, sparking a mixed reaction from fans online.
Prime Video shared the images Friday, depicting Hurst and Vinson in costume, recreating a scene reminiscent of the 2018 God of War video game. The photo shows Atreus drawing a bow while Kratos stands behind him, observing. Production on the two-season series is currently underway in Vancouver, Canada, according to Amazon.
The series, developed by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios in association with PlayStation Productions and Tall Ship Productions, will follow Kratos and Atreus as they journey to scatter the ashes of Faye, Kratos’ wife and Atreus’ mother. The narrative will draw heavily from the storylines of the most recent God of War games, focusing on the evolving relationship between father and son, with Kratos attempting to instill godlike qualities in Atreus while the son seeks to humanize his father, as detailed by Deadline.
The cast also includes Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Ed Skrein as Baldur, Max Parker as Heimdall, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Teresa Palmer as Sif, Alastair Duncan as Mimir, Jeff Gulka as Sindri, and Danny Woodburn as Brok. Ronald D. Moore, known for his work on Battlestar Galactica and Outlander, serves as showrunner, executive producer, and writer. Frederick E.O. Toye, who has directed episodes of Shōgun and The Boys, is directing the first two episodes.
The initial response to the released images on social media has been largely negative, with some users questioning the visual quality and authenticity of the portrayal. Several commenters expressed concerns that the images appeared to resemble artificially generated content, with one user on X (formerly Twitter) stating, “If this showed up on any other account, I’d say it looks like mediocre AI.” Another user compared the depiction to “TEMU Kratos,” referencing the online marketplace known for low-cost goods.
Amazon has not yet announced a premiere date for the series, but a release in 2027 remains a possibility. The series received a two-season order following its development, signaling confidence in the adaptation from the popular video game franchise.
