‘God of War’ TV Series Casts Its Kratos

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After over three years of development, Amazon has cast the lead actor for its upcoming TV series inspired by the popular God of War video game.

That’s Ryan Hurst, pictured on the left, who will be playing Kratos in the upcoming God of War series. According to a statement from Prime Video, Kratos is a Spartan warrior who became a god. He was trained for battle from a young age and led armies for his homeland. However, he made a deal with the Greek god Ares, trading his soul for victory in combat.

Amazon has committed to two seasons of the new TV series. The pilot episode will be directed by Frederick E.O. Toye, known for his work on shows like Shōgun, The Boys, and Fallout. Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica, For All Mankind) is overseeing the series as showrunner. Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby initially wrote the show, but Ronald D. Moore took over that role in late 2024.

When the series was first announced, this was how Amazon described the series:

The story centers on Kratos, the God of War, who leaves his violent history in ancient Greece behind and seeks peace in the Norse world of Midgard. After the death of his wife, he embarks on a perilous journey with his son to fulfill her last request: scattering her ashes from a mountaintop peak. This journey quickly becomes much more than a simple farewell, as Kratos and his son face challenges that will strain their relationship and pit Kratos against powerful new gods and creatures in a battle for the world’s future.

This aligns with the story of God of War, which originally came out on PlayStation 4 in 2018. Although simply titled, it’s actually the eighth installment in the series and effectively a fresh start for the franchise. A follow-up, God of War: Ragnarok, was then released for PlayStation 5 in 2022.

The 16 TV Shows We’re Looking Forward to in 2026

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO)

Even though Game of Thrones finished a few years ago, its spin-off shows are now starting to gain momentum. Besides the upcoming third season of House of the Dragon, expected to arrive later this year, we’re also getting A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a new prequel series based on George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg stories. The show stars Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk), a knight of humble origins, and Dexter Sol Ansell as his young companion, Prince Aegon Targaryen (Egg). Set about a hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones and shortly after the current storyline in House of the Dragon, fans of the A Song of Ice and Fire universe should take note!

Cape Fear (Apple TV)

Fans of thrilling dramas will be excited about Apple TV+’s new series, a reimagining of Cape Fear. The show follows a man recently released from prison who is determined to get revenge on the lawyer who helped convict him. While it’s not a remake of the original novel or films, it draws inspiration from all three, updating the story for today’s audiences. The series stars Javier Bardem, Amy Adams, and Patrick Wilson, and comes from Nick Antosca, the creator of shows like Channel Zero, Hannibal, and the Netflix miniseries Brand New Cherry Flavor.

Carrie (Prime Video)

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Crystal Lake (Peacock)

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East of Eden (Netflix)

Following the success of shows like Bridgerton, Netflix is planning several miniseries based on classic novels this year. While an adaptation of Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence is expected later in the year, fans are especially excited about the upcoming series based on John Steinbeck’s East of Eden. Written and produced by Zoe Kazan, the show boasts a stellar cast including Florence Pugh, Christopher Abbott, Mike Faist, Tracy Letts, and Ciaran Hinds – it’s sure to be a hit!

Euphoria Season 3 (HBO)

Many fans wondered if it would ever return, but Sam Levinson’s hit show Euphoria is coming back for a third season this spring—and it will likely be the last. Most of the original cast, including Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, and Eric Dane, are reprising their roles. The new season jumps ahead five years, showing what happened after the characters finished high school. We’ll find Rue struggling with debt in a dangerous situation, Cassie and Nate are married, and Jules is pursuing her art in school.

Industry Season 4 (HBO)

HBO’s intense drama Industry returns this year! The ambitious young professionals are back after causing chaos at their firm – and in their personal lives – at the end of last season. They’re more ruthless than ever as they navigate the cutthroat world of high finance. This season, Harper (Myha’la), now leading her own firm, is focused on dismantling a new payment processor trying to become a bank. Meanwhile, Yasmin (Marisa Abela) is discovering the harsh realities of life among the super-rich after marrying into aristocracy, and their former boss, Eric (Ken Leung), is enjoying retirement…for now.

Lanterns (HBO)

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Neuromancer (Apple TV)

Apple TV is adding another potentially excellent sci-fi series to its lineup with an adaptation of William Gibson’s groundbreaking 1984 novel, Neuromancer, which helped popularize the cyberpunk genre. The show stars Callum Turner as Case, a small-time criminal who’s lost his ability to connect to virtual reality. He gets a chance to regain access when a mysterious ex-military officer offers him a hacking job, but this deal quickly plunges him into a dangerous, high-stakes situation where survival depends on completing the task.

The Pitt Season 2 (HBO Max)

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Pride and Prejudice (Netflix)

Fans of classic novels and miniseries have a lot to look forward to this year! Netflix is creating a new adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved Pride and Prejudice. Considering how well Netflix’s historical dramas have performed recently, this adaptation is highly anticipated. Emma Corrin will play Elizabeth Bennet, with Jack Lowden as the complex Mr. Darcy. The talented cast also includes Olivia Colman, Rufus Sewell, Fiona Shaw, and Louis Partridge.

Spider-Noir (Prime Video)

Nicolas Cage is reprising his popular role as Spider-Man Noir, but this time in a new live-action TV show. Following the success of his appearance in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Spider-Noir is a detective story set in a 1930s New York City. The show centers on Ben Reilly, an older private investigator who also happens to be a superhero, as he investigates crimes and confronts secrets from his past. Filmed entirely in black and white, the series aims to capture the look and feel of classic film noir. It’s looking like one of the most original superhero shows of the year.

Star City (Apple TV)

Fans of Apple TV+’s acclaimed sci-fi series, For All Mankind, which imagines an alternate history of the Space Race, have another reason to be excited: a new spinoff called Star City. Also created by Ronald D. Moore, Star City will be set in the Soviet Union’s cosmonaut training center and will explore the Soviet perspective on space exploration in greater detail. While details are still limited, the show will star Rhys Ifans, Anna Maxwell Martin, and Ruby Ashbourne Serkis.

Ted Lasso Season 4 (Apple TV)

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The Terror: Devil in Silver (AMC)

Fans of scary TV shows have reason to be excited! A new season of The Terror, titled Devil in Silver, is coming to AMC this year. Based on Victor LaValle’s novel of the same name, the story follows a man mistakenly sent to a mental asylum who suspects a terrifying presence – the Devil himself – is lurking within its walls. The season will feature a strong cast including Dan Stevens, Judith Light, CCH Pounder, Stephen Root, and Aasif Mandvi.

The Testaments (Hulu)

Just when we thought the story of Gilead was over with the end of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale last year, Hulu is continuing the narrative with The Testaments. This new series, based on Margaret Atwood’s 2019 sequel novel, takes place five years after the original show’s finale. It will focus on a new group of young women who have no memory of life before Gilead and are now facing the realities of living under its rule. Ann Dowd will return as the formidable Aunt Lydia, and Chase Infiniti will star as Agnes Mackenzie, the daughter of June, the main character from The Handmaid’s Tale.

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2026-01-15 01:28