Prime Video has just lifted the veil on a first preview of its future God of War series. This first visual, revealed to accompany the start of filming, shows actor Ryan Hurst in the role of the famous warrior Kratos, accompanied by young Callum Vinson who plays his son Atreus.
The image quickly circulated on social networks, but the reactions were not those hoped for by the Amazon platform. The promotional photo sparked widespread criticism from fans, and even the creator of the original video game expressed skepticism over this first look.
The first image of the God of War series divides fans
The reveal of this first photo was to mark the official launch of filming for the God of War series. It also allowed us to discover Ryan Hurst for the first time in the skin of Kratos. The casting of the series nevertheless aroused a certain enthusiasm when it was announced. Ryan Hurst, known in particular for his roles in several popular series, is to play the famous god of war in this adaptation.
But the visual revealed did not convince some fans. Many criticized the image for not sufficiently highlighting the power and charisma of the main character. Some comments also targeted Callum Vinson, chosen to play Atreus. Several Internet users felt that the actor seemed too young to play the character as he appears in the video games.
God of War creator criticizes Kratos’ look
Among the most commented reactions is that of David Jaffe, creator of the first God of War game. Known for his blunt speaking engagements, he shared his opinion in a video posted after the image was revealed. According to him, the problem does not come from the choice of actor. On the other hand, he was particularly critical of the character’s expression and posture.
In particular, he describes a pose that reminds him of “someone dying in the woods”. The developer also criticizes Atreus’ appearance, particularly his hairstyle, which he considers too modern. He particularly mentions a cut “with lots of products in the hair”. David Jaffe also questions the communication strategy around this first visual.
According to him, if a character is to be presented for the first time to the general public, the staging should be more striking. He sums up his question with this question: “If you want to reveal to the public a brand new character on which a series is based, and they haven’t seen him yet, is this the best way to introduce him? »
A highly anticipated adaptation on Prime Video
Despite his criticisms, David Jaffe does not condemn the series. He explains that he wants to give this adaptation a chance. The creator of the game claims in particular to have confidence in the work of screenwriter Ronald D. Moore, known for his involvement in several successful series. He also believes that the series could ultimately become a “successful series”.
Production on the God of War series is currently filming. The project is developed by Prime Video, which continues to invest in adaptations of popular video game franchises. The series is expected to air next year on Amazon’s streaming platform.