"So Dumb" - 'God of War' Creator Clowns on TV First Look
Credits: Ed Skrein — Ajax from Deadpool — will play Baldur, Odin’s cursed son, in Amazon’s live-action God of War. He’ll go fist-to-fist with Ryan Hurst’s Kratos. Two seasons ordered with Ronald D. Moore running the show. Can Baldur finally make Kratos feel anything? #GodOfWar/@playswave_com via X/2018 Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC
Credits: Ed Skrein — Ajax from Deadpool — will play Baldur, Odin’s cursed son, in Amazon’s live-action God of War. He’ll go fist-to-fist with Ryan Hurst’s Kratos. Two seasons ordered with Ronald D. Moore running the show. Can Baldur finally make Kratos feel anything? #GodOfWar/@playswave_com via X/2018 Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC
Adapting a gaming giant like God of War was always going to come with intense scrutiny. But few expected the first wave of backlash to come from the franchise’s own creator, David Jaffe.
David Jaffe, who created the original God of War games, has openly criticized the first-look image from Amazon Prime Video’s upcoming TV adaptation. Taking to his YouTube channel after the image dropped, David Jaffe did not mince words about his reaction
“I’m sure everybody’s trying real hard, [but] it’s so dumb,” David Jaffe said.
Despite having bashed the first look, the creator still maintained faith in the adaptation, tipping his hat to the showrunner, Ron Moore.
"And Ron Moore is awesome, who is the showrunner… This guy is a juggernaut of a talented fellow. I have absolutely no doubt it is going to be a good show.” David Jaffe clarified.
The image in question shows Kratos standing in the woods with his son, signaling a focus on the emotional father-son dynamic that reshaped the franchise in recent years. But for David Jaffe, the pose and expression chosen for the character failed to convey the imposing presence that made Kratos iconic.
Marketing missteps aside, the larger conversation now centers on the adaptation’s creative direction and scope.
What is known about Amazon’s God of War adaptation?
The series is based on the long-running PlayStation franchise, God of War and is expected to draw heavily from the 2018 Norse mythology storyline, which redefined Kratos as a more restrained, emotionally complex father figure.
Ryan Hurst is set to play Kratos, with Callum Vinson portraying Atreus. The cast also includes Max Parker as Heimdall, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Alastair Duncan as Mimir, Danny Woodburn and Jeff Gulka as Brok and Sindri, and Ed Skrein as Baldur.
Ron Moore serves as showrunner on the project, bringing significant genre television experience to the adaptation. While a premiere date has not yet been announced, anticipation remains high given the franchise’s massive global following.
Do you agree with David Jaffe’s take, or are first-look images being judged too harshly? Let us know in the comments!
Written by
Karishma Dasgupta
Edited by
Aliza Siddiqui