Amazon's long-awaited God of War TV adaptation has been in the works for quite some time, and while it's set to focus on the franchise's more recent Norse saga, there's a lot of hope among fans that the show won't forget where Kratos came from. Given how much of Kratos' emotional core is rooted in his violent past, including snippets of the Greek saga could be key to making the God of War TV series resonate with both longtime fans and newcomers alike.
Back in 2022, Amazon secured the rights to bring God of War to the small screen after winning a competitive bidding war. Initially, screenwriters Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby (Children of Men, Iron Man) and showrunner Rafe Judkins (The Wheel of Time) were attached, but all three exited the project in 2024. Their departure led to Ronald D. Moore (Outlander, For All Mankind) stepping in as the new showrunner for the God of War TV series. The current plan is to adapt the story of God of War (2018), which entailed Kratos' journey with his son Atreus across the Norse realms to fulfill his late wife's final wish.
Related God Of War: 8 Things The Amazon Series Needs To Get Right
Amazon's adaptation of the Norse God of War games needs to nail several facets of the IP to be successful with longtime fans.
PostsHowever, while God of War's Norse chapter is emotionally rich and critically acclaimed, it's far from the beginning of Kratos' tale. The original God of War trilogy and its spin-offs told the story of a rage-fueled Spartan warrior who, after selling his soul to Ares and being tricked into murdering his own wife and daughter, set out on a blood-soaked path of vengeance against the Greek gods. These games were seminal in establishing Kratos as one of gaming's most iconic characters, and helped turn God of War into a household name. The 2018 Norse reboot of the God of War series picked up a while after the end of the Greek saga, showing a calmer, more introspective Kratos trying to escape his past and raise Atreus in peace.
Why God of War's Greek Saga Must Be Included in the TV Series
CloseThis is why it's critical for the God of War TV series to not skip the Greek saga or treat it as mere backstory. Flashbacks to Kratos' life in Greece - or even dedicated episodes - could add emotional depth and narrative clarity to his actions in the Norse lands. His grief, restraint, and desire to protect Atreus carry more weight when viewers understand the full extent of the violence and tragedy Kratos is trying to leave behind, and also about what he's capable of if any Norse gods feel like they could threaten his peace. Moreover, contrasting the fiery chaos of Olympus during Kratos' war path with the frigid stillness of Midgard could give rise to some of the most visually and thematically stunning scenes in the God of War TV show.
The God of War TV series currently doesn't have a release window yet, and given the complete production reset it underwent in October 2024, the show most likely won't be out for a few more years. Moore recently provided a development update on the God of War TV series, revealing that the team is currently working on scripts and has been consulting with God of War 2 and God of War (2018) director Cory Barlog for the same.
