It’s been almost two years since the God of War live-action series based on the popular PlayStation game was announced for Amazon Prime Video. The story of the game that the series will adapt follows Kratos and his son Atreus’s journey to Jotunheim to fulfill Kratos’ late wife Faye’s request that her ashes be spread at the highest peak of the nine realms.
The announcement of the live-action series gave the fans an opportunity to speculate who would be the right fit to play Kratos and several names have been thrown into the mix since then such as Dave Bautista and Kratos voice actor Christopher Judge among others. Sony recently confirmed that the script for the live-action series is being written and this again gave push to the discussion over the casting of Kratos actor but there still isn’t any official news on who will play the role.
Kratos is a very complex character with a range of emotions and the actor playing the iconic God of War needs to be able to portray those emotions perfectly. Additionally, the physical build, the bald head, and salt and pepper beard are important requirements and there are only a few who could nail this role. Below are the actors who would ace as Kratos and some who would not be a great fit.
Actor Who Would Kill as Live Action Kratos in God of War Series
1. Christopher Judge
Christopher Judge is the first and most popular choice for the role of Kratos in the God of War live-action series. Judge has portrayed the role of Kratos in God of War and God of War Ragnarok titles through voice acting and motion capture. The voice actor has been widely praised by fans and critics alike for his portrayal of the character which led to Kratos becoming one of the most popular protagonists in video games.
Christopher Judge himself hasn’t shied away from showing his interest in being cast as the Ghost of Sparta in God of War on occasions and given how well he’s done playing as Kratos in the games, it is only fair that he is at least considered for the role. Although, Judge hasn’t had a great acting role and has mostly done voice acting that does not mean he can not pull and dominate as Kratos.
2. Dave Bautista
Dave Bautista, the former WWE superstar and Guardians of the Galaxy actor is one of the most popular contenders to play Kratos and he would truly dominate if cast. The actor has the physique and most importantly the bald head that automatically qualifies him for the role. Moreover, the actor has proved with his multiple acting roles that he can play Kratos in God of War.
Bautista has shown his acting prowess through multiple roles in films like Guardians of the Galaxy, Glass Onion, Dune, Army of the Dead, Knock at the Cabin, and many more. One of his most notable roles is of Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy who also has a similar backstory to Kratos. Considering how greatly Bautista has portrayed that role, he could easily play Kratos and appeal to the fans.
3. Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnson is also one of the actors who are on the top of the list of who could be cast for playing Kratos. Although many might not consider him the best candidate, he does have the ability to play the character in God of War. The actor already has the height and physique required for the role as well as the bald head. He could also grow a beard which is a prerequisite for the role.
The actor has also showcased that he has the acting talent that is required to play Kratos. Dwayne Johnson has been cast in several movies such as Fast and Furious, Red Notice, Black Adam, and more and has proved that he can pull any role whether it is in an action film or comedy. The actor has the charisma that he can bring as Kratos on the silver screen that can attract longtime fans.
4. Gerard Butler
Gerald Butler is one of the most popular and talented actors who has done a great job in several films like Olympus Has Fallen, Coriolanus, and The Phantom of the Opera. However, his most iconic role came in director Zack Synder’s 300 where played the role of King Leonidas I. Butler was widely praised and acclaimed for his role and gained recognition as one of the most talented actors.
Butler can easily play Kratos in the God of War series as he has the build and beard and has proved that he has the emotional range and action prowess that can help him embody the character. However, it also boils down to if he can portray a character that doesn’t even show any emotions.
5. Travis Fimmel
Travis Fimmel might not be as popular and as big a name as the above-mentioned actors but he surely can play Kratos in the God of War series. Fimmel has shown his acting talent in the acclaimed Vikings series for History Channel where he masterfully played the role of Ragnar Lodbrok.
Judging from his acting ability and the mastery in Axe-wielding in the show, he can easily pull off playing Kratos. The actor also has the physique and beard for Kratos and he has nailed the role of Caleb in Raised by Wolves. Although he is not as large as Kratos, he should still be considered for the role in the God of War live-action series, even if he doesn’t get it.
Actors Who Wouldn’t Be a Good Fit for Kratos
1. Chris Hemsworth
While it is strange enough that an actor who’s played Thor is being considered for the play Kratos, not many fans think so. Chris Hemsworth has surely left a lasting impact on fans with his roles in MCU films such as Thor and Extraction and despite having the acting ability, height, and physical attributes similar to Kratos he is still not fit for the role.
One of the major reasons behind this is his role as Thor as fans would have a hard time seeing him as Kratos and he also does not have that deep voice that an actor needs to depict Kratos. Furthermore, Kratos also encounters Thor at times so there would be a conflict for fans seeing him as Kratos while he’s already Thor.
2. Djimon Hounsou
Djimon Hounsou’s name has also been linked to play Kratos in the God of War series but he would not be able to do justice to the character. He surely has the physical attributes and deep voice like Kratos but he hasn’t been outstanding in roles despite being some of the good films.
Hounsou has been in movies like Constantine and The Guardians of the Galaxy but has not impressed many and God of War fans would not accept anything less than a stellar performance from the actor playing the iconic character. This is not to say that Hounsou is not a good actor, he surely is but he is just not a great fit for Kratos.
3. Dominic Purcell
Dominic Purcell is another actor whose name has been seen on social media and across subreddits to be cast as Kratos in the live-action series. The actor is popularly known for his role as Lincoln Burrows in Prison Break. He has the physique, the bald head, and the deep voice but he still can not pull off the persona that Kratos has and he also does not have the experience acting in mythological projects. He is an outstanding actor but he wouldn’t be able to portray Kratos as fans expect.
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