Actor Portraying Kratos Addresses Criticism Over God of War Series' First Image
Ryan Hurst, the actor portraying Kratos in Amazon's God of War adaptation, offers reassurance that initial images may not fully represent the series' final appearance.
Carlos Mendoza · 2 min read
Ryan Hurst, who portrays Kratos in Amazon's live-action God of War series, has responded to fan criticism of the first official image released by Amazon Prime Video. The image featured Hurst as Kratos alongside Callum Vinson as Atreus, but some viewers expressed disappointment with the character portrayals. Critics suggested Kratos appeared less intimidating than his video game counterpart, with some calling the costume design amateurish. The image's clean, artificial aesthetic also led to accusations of AI manipulation. Hurst addressed the backlash in an Instagram post, stating, "Don't believe everything you see online, kids." This message suggests the initial image is not representative of the final product. Promotional images often undergo significant post-production work, including color correction, lighting adjustments, and visual effects to establish the show's intended tone. Hurst has also stated his willingness to integrate his performance with the established visual style of Kratos.
Criticism Swarms Over Controversial God of War Image Preliminary Test, Hurst Assures Authentic Portrayal in Second Season
Users such as Jeff Bakalar, Mikel Nino, RetroFlama, aLexBY11, Marc Normandin, Evan Von Doom, bakoon, ItsRichard, Eric J., Juan Antonio, and Bill Mudron were among those who criticized the image on social media. User THighgate11 tweeted, "Excited for the show overall but this picture seems like a spoof movie. Terrible first impression." Colin MacLeod (ColinJMacLeod) commented that the photo looked heavily edited, to the point where it could be mistaken for AI. Josiah from Geeks + Gamers stated it resembled "a Kratos from a dollar store," while Sevvy from the same site agreed, saying, "Yeahhhh not a great look." Pierry Chan mocked the "beer belly" design choice, and Jeremy Griggs, founder of Geeks + Gamers, simply stated, "Well, s. This isn't good." Amazon MGM Studios has renewed the TV adaptation, which follows Kratos and Atreus through the Norse realms, for a second season. However, the release date for the first season has not yet been announced. Hurst's Instagram Story, shared by uAllTr0n on GodofWarRagnarok, suggests that the published image is a preliminary test and not representative of the final product.
In Case You Missed It
In a wave of exciting gaming news, Carlos Mendoza shared in his March 2nd article that the next God of War installment will star Faye as its female protagonist, promising an action-packed fresh take on the series under Cory Barlog's direction. Set for early 2027, this empowering shift is generating buzz among fans eager to see Sony expand the franchise Upcoming God of War to Feature Female Protagonist, Says Source. Meanwhile, Carlos also delves into another thrilling event in his latest post: 'Game Developers Conference to Take Place from March 9 to 13; We'll Be There', published on the same date. Mark your calendars for this annual gathering in San Francisco and follow along as Carlos explores its sessions, activities, and exhibitors Game Developers Conference to Take Place from March 9 to 13; We'll Be There. Lastly, if you're a Pokémon fan with a sense of humor, Sophie Laurent's piece 'Pokémon Fans Mock Scalpers Over Selling Out Plush', published yesterday on March 2nd, is a must-read. It's an entertaining dive into the world of Pokémon plush and scalper shenanigans, filled with creative ways fans are fighting back against greedy scalpers Pokémon Fans Mock Scalpers Over Selling Out Plush.


// The Friday recap
Enjoyed this article? You will like the Friday recap.
Series info
- Official Name
- Ascendants of the Nine Suns
- Brief Summary
- Once betrayed and killed at the peak of his power, Ye Yunfei is reborn into his younger self—the moment his martial veins were first destroyed. With all the memories of his past life, he seizes this second chance to protect his loved ones, outmaneuver rival clans and sects, and rebuild his strength.
- Released
- November 22, 2025
- Genre
- Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
- Production Companies
- Xing Yi Kai Chen
- Countries of Origin
- CN
- Actors
- Ma Zhengyang, Zhang Youwu, Ye Zhiqiu, 祁欣, 李琦, 吴晛, 戈昕宇, Jiang Yingjun, Shuang Zhao, Zhang Enze
- Director
- 张德方
- Ratings
- 8/10 (1 reviews)
- Number of episodes
- 20
- Number of seasons
- 1
Where to buy
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

PlayStation
See the price on Amazon
PlayStation
See the price on Amazon
Veronese Design Loki God of Mischief
See the price on Amazon
Marvel Legends Series Odin, Deluxe 85th Anniversary Comics Collectible 6-Inch Action Figure
See the price on Amazon
PlayStation God of War Ragnarok, 6” Atreus Action Figure with 4 Accessories, The Shapes Collection, for PS5 Fans & Collectors Ages 17+
See the price on Amazon
PlayStation
See the price on Amazon



