Prime Video‘s God of War series continues to round out the cast with the addition of a Deadpool star as the central villain. The show is based on Sony’s popular video game franchise, which features a story mired in mythology and bloody combat that players have been enjoying for over 20 years. The show will adapt later games in the franchise, with Prime Video’s series based on the 2018 God of War game, which featured the series protagonist Kratos swapping Greek mythology for Norse mythology.
The cast of God of War has been steadily growing, with Sons of Anarchy star Ryan Hurst landing the role of Kratos. Hurst also voiced Thor in the video game franchise, making a distinct swap for the live-action series. The show’s cast also includes Teresa Palmer as Sif, Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Max Parker as Heimdall, and Callum Vinson as Atreus. Thanks to a press release from Amazon MGM Studios, fans now know that Deadpool star Ed Skrein has been added to the cast as Baldur. God of War‘s Baldur was provided with a lengthy character description, which 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. 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 is known for playing Ajax (or Francis) in Deadpool. However, the actor has had an eclectic resume, having appeared in Jurassic World Rebirth, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, and Alita: Battle Angel. Aside from God of War, Skrein also has Ride or Die on the way, a miniseries co-starring Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham.
Prime Video Could Have Another Video Game Hit With ‘God of War’
Video game-based shows have been impressing audiences in recent years. The Last of Us was a huge hit for HBO, and even the Twisted Metal series has been getting great reviews and viewership for Peacock. Prime Video has been a big part of the success of video game adaptations, with its Fallout series being a critical and fan hit for the streaming service. The second season of the sci-fi series has just aired, with a third season already given the greenlight by the studio.
Prime Video looks to be repeating its Fallout success with God of War, as, beyond the star-studded cast it is putting together, the series is also building a stellar creative team. Ronald D. Moore is serving as showrunner, executive producer, and writer on the mythology-based show. Moore is known for his work on Battlestar Galactica and Outlander. The Prime Video series is also borrowing from Fallout, with the addition of Frederick E.O. Toye to direct the first two episodes. Toye is an Emmy Award winner, with a resume that also includes Shōgun and The Boys.
How true to the games the God of War series stays remains to be seen, but the pieces are in place for a fantastic show. Further details surrounding the Prime Video show will be forthcoming as casting and pre-production continue.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
