It’s one of Sony’s most popular franchises from its Santa Monica studio, and now God of War is coming to Prime Video. Amazon is booming, acquiring major gaming franchises left and right. It’s hard to blame them.
With the huge success of Fallout, it’s a no-brainer to buy popular franchises like Warhammer, Mass Effect, and God of War. Amazon acquired “God of War” as early as March 2022.
That doesn’t necessarily mean it will lead to anything, at least not for a while. Some of what they do is purely for competition, effectively removing a popular story from the boardroom.
In the worst case scenario, they sell it later for more than the original purchase price. But as Amazon churns out fantasy, sci-fi and gaming content, the God of War brand is ripe for strength.
The God of War universe spans ten games, so Amazon has plenty of content and lore to draw from. However, it looks like the main focus will be on the two most recent games in the series, which tell a complete story from start to finish.
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When will filming start for God of War?
It’s too early to discuss when the show will be released, as filming is still a future prospect. All we know is that work on the script began in January 2024, if not earlier.
Mark Fergus and Hawk Osterby are writing the script, with Corey Balog serving as executive producer. Fergus has a long list of highly successful screenwriting credits, including The First Snow, Children of Men, Iron Man (2008) and The Expanse series.
Hawk Oatsby was Mark Fergus’s other half and contributed to all of Fergus’s scripts. Cory Barlog is a household name among God of War fans, as he was the lead animator on the original God of War and directed the second God of War.
He also directed the first “reboot” in 2018 and was deeply involved in God of War: Ragnarok.
This is the scariest, most wonderful thing I have ever done, and I can honestly say it wouldn’t be possible without the full support of Sony and the tireless efforts of the incredible team at Santa Monica Studio
-Corey Balrog
The script covers the two most recent games in the series (so-called reboots), although they are direct continuations of Kratos’ adventures. The current storyline is years, if not decades, away from Kratos’ original storyline.
For those new to God of War, the storyline is vast. Most of Kratos’ (the protagonist of the entire series) exploits take place in ancient Sparta.
However, the last two games have seen Kratos somewhere in Scandinavia (Northland). The change of location also brought about a huge change in the story.
A deeper, more nuanced, and more personal Kratos emerging from the angry, singular focus of his youth really opened up the script for the showrunners.
Where can I watch God of War?
The God of War has only one home, Amazon. Development is a long and tortuous process, which has experienced nearly two decades of ups and downs.
Development hell is nothing new for some of the bigger franchises, and this story has plenty of groundwork.
Amazon is investing heavily in gaming franchises, and the success of Fallout could mean a more concerted effort is on the way. Additionally, there is the competitive nature of the business.
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Netflix is busy making The Witcher, BioShock, Assassin’s Creed, Beyond Good and Evil, and Horizon. Max has The Last of Us. Peacock has twisted metal. PUBG, Metal Gear Solid, Soul of Tsushima, Grandmaster, Mortal Kombat 2, Portal, Death Stranding, Firewatch and Minecraft Also coming soon.
Who is the cast of “God of War”?
Taking over Kratos’s place is not an easy task. For those familiar with the Witcher series, the choice of Liam Hemsworth to play Geralt was met with backlash.
Kratos is a very specific character that only a handful of actors can understand for those familiar with the game.
As of now, Amazon has not found that person. This is just one of the things Amazon can’t get wrong. Christopher Judge voices the character and is definitely in the running.
Dwayne Johnson is also a name that’s been bandied about, although nothing has come of it.
Other names on the list include Jason Mamoa, Chris Hemsworth (uh… no, please), Dominic Purcell, Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, Day Jeff Batista (whose voice and mannerisms are very different) and Brandon White.
Brandon White is the only actor to play Kratos himself, with Christopher Judge voicing him. White plays the eponymous character in the live-action trailer for God of War: Ascension. Granted, this happened very early in Kratos’ life.
There are no casting rumors for other characters, at least not yet. There are some interesting theories floating around the internet, but nothing concrete.
Who’s behind Amazon’s God of War?
As mentioned above, Mark Fergus and Hawke Oatsby are writing the script, with Corey Balog (probably the single most God of War experience man on the planet) serving as executive producer.
Rafe Judkins currently serves as director familiar with Amazon’s Wheel of Time series. Judkins has extensive experience working with Sony as a writer for Playstation Productions.
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The Santa Monica studio is also sending some of its own talent on board, including Yumi Yang and Jeff Ketcham as executive producers on Barlog.
Roy Lee, Carter Swan and Asad Qizilbash also serve as executive producers alongside Balrog. It all adds up to an extensive resume that includes notable franchises, especially video game adaptations like The Last of Us and Uncharted.
Where will God of War go?
Kratos is essentially an anti-hero. As a Spartan warrior, the Greek god Ares tricked him into murdering his wife and children.
His infamous pale complexion was the result of a village oracle that covered his body with the ashes of his dead wife and children, marking him forever.
Due to Ares’s machinations, Kratos abandoned him and went to war with him. While the plot is more complex than what’s written here, Kratos’ actions escalate into an all-out war against the Greek gods, ultimately ending in their deaths and the surrounding lands in ruins.
Kratos’ story takes place in the Northland several years later. He remarried and his wife died, leaving him to care for and raise his son Atreus. That’s where Amazon chooses to focus.
While this is the right choice, it also means Kratos will arrive with a lot of backstory.
The 2018 and 2022 God of War games are the focus of the upcoming series, and they’re two halves of a story about a father-son dynamic.
The catalyst is the death of Atreus’s mother, and the inciting incident is a stranger arriving on Kratos and Atreus’ doorstep while the two are still in mourning and preparing to embark on a journey to scatter their ashes.
Kratos and Atreus become embroiled in the affairs of the Norse gods as Kratos attempts to learn how to be a father, despite his horrific past – one filled with violence, the death of his daughter, and blind revenge. .
It’s an epic tale that tells a story as old as time itself and infuses it with fascinating characters steeped in Greek and Norse legends.
When will God of War be released?
God of War’s release date is known only to Amazon, at least for now. Plus, Amazon’s showrunners may only have a rough idea themselves.
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We’re not sure if the script is fully written and will need to be rewritten, or if it will be added when filming begins. Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon Studios, said:
From “Invincible” to “The Boys,” we did a really good job adapting it. I mean, we just covered a lot of them, right? So we know God of War has such a passionate fan base. But what we’re always looking for is if there’s a real emotional core, if there’s a real narrative story, and I think that’s part of what makes God of War so special.
Paying close attention to the source material will help speed up your script. What’s more important is how to transform a video game into a live game.
At this time, we are still waiting for pilot orders. Considering the level of expertise behind the script, it’s likely that God of War will one day be greenlit by Amazon.
How many episodes are there in God of War Season 1?
There is currently no information on the number of episodes for the first season. Judging from The Boys, Afterlife and other popular series on Prime, eight is the magic number.
God of War will most likely have eight episodes, but there’s always the possibility of more or less, depending on budget, scheduling, etc.
Are you a fan of the God of War series? Will this series be on your must-see list? Let us know in the comments and the direction you’d like Kratos and Atreus to take!
