Production is officially underway on the highly anticipated live-action adaptation of the blockbuster PlayStation franchise God of War, marking a major investment by Prime Video and its studio partners as competition intensifies in the global streaming market.
Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios announced the start of filming and released a first-look image featuring actors Ryan Hurst and Callum Vinson in costume as Kratos and Atreus. The pair portray the central father-son duo in the live-action interpretation of one of gaming’s most commercially successful and critically acclaimed franchises.
The series represents a significant content bet for Prime Video as streaming platforms increasingly turn to established intellectual property to attract subscribers and retain audiences. The adaptation is co-produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios in association with PlayStation Productions and Tall Ship Productions. The companies have already committed to a two-season order, signalling confidence in the project’s long-term potential.
The story follows Kratos and his son Atreus on a mythological journey to spread the ashes of Kratos’s wife and Atreus’s mother, Faye. Along the way, the narrative explores emotional and philosophical tensions between the characters, as Kratos attempts to teach Atreus how to become a better god, while Atreus strives to help his father reconnect with his humanity.
The adaptation builds on the commercial strength of the original God of War video game franchise, developed by Sony’s PlayStation Studios. First released in 2005, the series has sold tens of millions of copies globally and has become one of the flagship brands for the PlayStation platform. Its cinematic storytelling and mature themes have made it a prime candidate for cross-media expansion, reflecting a broader entertainment industry trend of adapting video games for film and television.
The cast includes several established film and television actors, underscoring the scale of the production. Mandy Patinkin will portray Odin, while Ed Skrein has been cast as Baldur. Max Parker will play Heimdall, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson takes on the role of Thor, and Teresa Palmer will portray Sif. The ensemble also includes Alastair Duncan as Mimir, Jeff Gulka as Sindri, and Danny Woodburn as Brok.
Creative leadership for the project comes from Ronald D. Moore, who serves as showrunner, executive producer and writer. Moore is widely known for his work on high-profile television dramas including Battlestar Galactica and Outlander, both of which earned critical acclaim and strong audience followings.
Additional executive producers include Maril Davis, Cory Barlog, Naren Shankar, Matthew Graham, Asad Qizilbash, Jeff Ketcham, Hermen Hulst, Roy Lee and Brad Van Arragon. Joe Menosky, Marc Bernardin, Tania Lotia and Ben McGinnis serve as co-executive producers.
The first two episodes will be directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Frederick E.O. Toye, whose recent directing credits include major streaming productions such as Shōgun, The Boys and Fallout. His involvement signals Prime Video’s intent to deliver cinematic production values comparable to its other big-budget original series.
For Amazon, the God of War adaptation is part of a broader strategy to compete with rivals such as Netflix and Disney+ by leveraging recognizable franchises. Prime Video has already invested heavily in large-scale genre productions, including The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, as streaming companies seek global hits capable of driving subscriber growth.
The video game adaptation trend has accelerated in recent years following the commercial and critical success of series such as HBO’s The Last of Us and Paramount+’s Halo. These projects have demonstrated that game-based storytelling can translate into mainstream television success when paired with strong creative leadership and adequate budgets.
For Sony, the project represents another step in monetizing its gaming intellectual property beyond consoles, expanding into television and film to diversify revenue streams and deepen audience engagement.
A release date for God of War has not yet been announced. However, with production now underway and a two-season commitment already in place, the series is positioned to become a cornerstone of Prime Video’s future programming slate and a potentially significant driver of viewer interest in the increasingly competitive streaming sector.