'Game of Thrones' star joins an already stacked 'God of War' cast and he will be up against Kratos
'God of War' has found its antagonist, Baldur. The villainous game character will be played by 'Game of Thrones' star Ed Skrein as he takes on Ryan Hurst's Kratos in Prime Video's game-to-live TV adaptation series. He is the main antagonist in 'God of War' (2018) and the overarching antagonist of its 'God of War Ragnarök' game released in 2022. According to Variety, the official description for Skrein's character reads, "Baldur may be the youngest son of Odin, but he’s his father’s most dangerous weapon. Charismatic, unpredictable, and armed with a razor-sharp tongue, Baldur lives by his own rules.
"As a boy, Baldur was cursed; this curse denied him the ability to feel pleasure and physical sensation," it further adds. "This fuels an insatiable anger and bloodlust in Baldur, who favors a brawling fighting style that blends his immense power with the raw impact of his fists. Above all else, he longs for an opponent that can truly match his prowess in battle. An opponent that can finally make him feel something."
Skrein joins a stacked ensemble cast including Ryan Hurst as Kratos, Callum Vinson as Atreus, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Max Parker as Heimdall, Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Danny Woodburn and Jeff Gulka as brothers Brok and Sindri, along with Alastair Duncan as Mimir. Along with 'GoT', Skrein's other notable roles include starring as Francis/Ajaz in the first 'Deadpool' film. He later starred in 'Rebel Moon', 'Jurassic World Rebirth', and 'Alita: Battle Angel.'
The logline of 'God of War' reads, "Father and son Kratos and Atreus embark on a journey to spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye. Through their adventures, Kratos tries to teach his son to be a better god, while Atreus tries to teach his father how to be a better human." The series borrows from the recent 'God of War' game series, which pits Kratos against the Norse powers.
‘God of War’ tells an emotionally driven story centered on Kratos and his young son, Atreus. Following the death of Kratos’ wife, Faye, the father-son duo set out on a journey to fulfill her final wish: scattering her ashes from the highest peak. Along the way, father and son are forced to confront monsters, gods, and their own unresolved wounds. The upcoming series will trace the journey of one of the iconic game heroes born out of tragedy.
At the time of writing, there is no official release date set for the game-to-TV adaptation, though a 2027 release looks likely. 'God of War' has already been greenlit for a second season, even as Season 1 continues to be in pre-production. Ronald D. Moore of the 'For All Mankind' fame helms the series as the writer, executive producer, and showrunner. Frederick E.O. Toye serves as the director for the first two episodes. The list of executive producers includes Maril Davis of Tall Ship, along with Cory Barlog, Naren Shankar, Matthew Graham, Asad Qizilbash, Jeff Ketcham, Hermen Hulst, Roy Lee, and Brad Van Arragon.
