From Kratos to Thor, see the world of the video game franchise brought to life.

God of War TV cast: See the actors side-by-side with their video game characters

From Kratos to Thor, see the world of the video game franchise brought to life.

By Nick Romano

Nick Romano is a senior editor at ** with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment. His work previously appeared in *Vanity Fair*, Vulture, IGN, and more.

EW's editorial guidelines

January 29, 2026 4:47 p.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Ryan Hurst cast as Kratos in 'God of War'. Credit:

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty; Sony Interactive Entertainment

Amazon's live-action *God of War* TV series continues to forge its cast.

The adaptation of the mega-popular PlayStation video game franchise brings the characters of Kratos, Atreus, Thor, Odin, and various figures from myth to live-action. With a two-season order already in place, pre-production is currently underway in Vancouver ahead of a filming start later this year.

From showrunner, writer, and executive producer Ronald D. Moore, *God of War* will begin to adapt the storyline that began with 2018's game of the same name from Santa Monica Studio and continued with the 2022 follow-up *God of War Ragnarök*. Emmy-winning director Frederick E.O. Toye (S*hōgun*, *The Boys*) will helm the first two episodes.

Let's meet the cast.

Ryan Hurst, Kratos

Ryan Hurst will play Kratos in the 'God of War' TV series.

Justin Lubin/Prime

Ryan Hurst already has a connection to *God of War*. The veteran of *Sons of Anarchy* and *The Walking Dead* played the original Thor in *God of War Ragnarök*, released on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in 2022. Hurst will now play the lead role of Kratos in live-action form.

Though the show will begin with the events of 2018's *God of War*, the character arrives with a history that goes back to the original 2005 video game.

Kratos began as a Spartan warrior and a servant of Ares, the Greek god of war. After Ares tricked him into killing his family, earning him the nickname "the Ghost of Sparta," Kratos embarked on a mission to slay his tormenter and become the new war god. Across multiple games, he faced numerous figures — human, monster, and immortal alike — until he battled against Zeus himself and the full force of Mount Olympus.

'Tomb Raider' evolution of Lara Croft: From video game vixen to action icon

Meet the 'Mortal Kombat' cast and their video game characters

When we meet Kratos in the 2018 game, he's left the Greek world behind to live in Scandinavia with his new wife, Faye, and their son, Atreus. Upon Faye's death, the father and son set out to spread her ashes, a journey that will bring them into conflict with the Norse gods of Asgard, test Kratos' already strained relationship with Atreus, and dig up traumatic memories from his past.

Terrence C. Carson voiced Kratos in the games from 2005-2013, after which Christopher Judge took over, including *God of War* and *God of War* *Ragnarök.*

Max Parker, Heimdall

Max Parker cast as Heimdall in 'God of War'.

David Reiss; Sony Interactive Entertainment

After the cancellation of Netflix's *Boots*, for which he delivered a standout performance as Sergeant Liam Robert Sullivan, actor Max Parker joins *God of War* as the god Heimdall.

The deity and son of the All-Father, Odin, has the ability to anticipate what's about to happen, which makes him a formidable opponent. "Handsome and dynamic, he feels unappreciated by his father and underestimated by the rest of the family, and as a result, Heimdall is constantly looking for ways to improve his position in the hierarchy and increase his stature and power," a character description reads.

Heimdall appeared in *God of War Ragnarök*, in which Scott Porter (*Ginny and Georgia*, *Friday Night Lights*) played the part.

Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Thor

Ólafur Darri Ólafsson cast as Thor in 'God of War'.

Eric Charbonneau/Getty; Sony Interactive Entertainment

Known internationally for roles in *Severence* and *Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga*, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson will succeed Hurst in the role of Thor, the Asgardian god of thunder.

The character featured prominently in *God of War Ragnarök*. He's described as "a mountain of a man who has weathered many a battle in his time but whose actions in a war fought long ago now haunt his waking hours."

The show's character summary continues: "Once the loyal soldier of Asgard and his father’s right-hand man, Thor is now but a shadow of his former self as he drowns himself in alcohol and tries not to think of the price he paid. Keeping his wife and children at arm’s length has only deepened his isolation, but the power (and danger) of the god of thunder is still there just beneath the surface."

Ólafsson previously tangoed in the world of Norse myth with the animated Netflix series *Twilight of the Gods*. He also has some gaming credits from lending his voice to *Assassin's Creed: Valhalla*, *The Last Worker*, and *Total War: Warhammer III*.

Mandy Patinkin, Odin

Mandy Patinkin cast as Odin on 'God of War'.

Dia Dipasupil/Getty; PlayStation

Mandy Patinkin of *The Princess Bride* and *Homeland* fame will play the king of the Asgardian gods, known as the Aesir, on *God of War*.

Dubbed "the All-Father," Odin "is not physically imposing or particularly god-like, but looks can be deceiving," reads the character description. "He is the most powerful Aesir god, a patriarch who leads with an iron fist, and an unrivaled seeker of knowledge. When it comes to seeking out prophecy, Odin is paranoid, manipulative, and dangerous — he will do anything to try and prevent Ragnarök, the Norse end of days. He serves as a formidable antagonist to Kratos."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

*This article will be as more casting is confirmed.*

- Sci-Fi & Fantasy Shows

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Sci-Fi”