God of War TV series: why this first teaser pic is ruffling so many feathers

Luca Fontana

2/3/2026

Translation: Patrik Stainbrook

Amazon’s first look at Kratos in God of War has been met with ridicule, scepticism and frowns. Why does the God of War suddenly look like a cosplayer with back problems?

It’s just a simple picture. Ryan Hurst as Kratos on the left, Callum Vinson as Atreus on the right. No trailer, no scene, no video footage. And yet, this single still image is enough to set off an astonishingly emotional debate, currently raging in endless comment chains across social media and Reddit forums.

The issue? It looks cheap. Artificial. Like Comic-Con cosplay. Add to that Kratos’ posture, making the God of War look like he’s suffering from back pain. Some initially even thought it was an AI image generated by fans, others thought it was made in Photoshop. Only after looking at the picture credits do you realise: this is officially from Amazon – genuine.

But what’s actually ticking people off here?

Too clean for this world

Objectively speaking, the teaser gets most things right. The costumes are based very closely on the original game by Sony Santa Monica. That distinctive red tattoo, the beard, the leather armour – it’s all there. And Ryan Hurst offers enough physical presence; no one could seriously expect an actor to achieve the diabolical muscle mass of a digital demigod. Different standards apply in live action.

And yet, the picture strangely comes off flat.

In my opinion, it lacks depth. Atmosphere. Texture. The Nordic cold, the dirt, the weight that’s characterised God of War since its 2018 reboot. Instead, the set looks artificial, the moss-covered rock looks like it’s made of polystyrene, the trees in the background could be matt paintings, and the shot itself is lit like a studio test, not a moment in a living, breathing world.

So, the problem lies less in the casting and more in the presentation. Light, colour correction, perspective – it all gives off the impression of an isolated promo image, not an organic frame from a series marked by a wrathful god. At last, we’ve arrived at the central problem. Because as it turns out, there’s still more to the story.

Could this just be a promo image?

Considering that filming reportedly wasn’t supposed to start until March 2026 – about now – it’s entirely conceivable that this image isn’t from the actual shoot or filmed footage. Early promo images are commonplace in the industry. They’re often pumped out before a series arrives at its final look and feel. The sole purpose of these promos is to get people talking early.

Take The Witcher. When Netflix released its first look of Henry Cavill as Geralt in 2018, the teaser garnered similar muted reactions. His wig looked artificial, the light unflattering. This later turned out to be an early costume test, not a scene from the show itself. The finished product looked much better.

So, it might be too early to draw conclusions about the overall show quality from this one picture. Still, let’s not forget: you never get a second chance at a first impression. Especially for a brand with such a passionate fan base.

The larger problem may not lie with a simple promo image alone. Instead, we can’t forget that Kratos isn’t any ordinary video game character. He’s an icon. His aura doesn’t come from design and acting alone, but from staging and an intimate perspective on the character as a whole. Adapting this into a TV series will be hellishly tricky.

Kratos – more than a character

Think back to the 2018 reboot. Remember the continuous shoulder camera with no visible cuts. This precise choice added intimacy and intensity. The players weren’t observers, but part of the journey. This immersion can’t be transferred one-to-one into any single frame.

In live action, even a god will shrink to human dimensions. While he may look monumental in-game, he can quickly look like «just» a well-dressed actor on a set. No more, no less. You can’t blame the show for this, only the medium as a whole.

At the same time, there are reasons not to panic. With Fallout, Amazon has shown that a video game adaptation can be done respectfully, maintaining its atmosphere and uniqueness. The show was surprisingly confident in handling the IP’s tone and worldbuilding. It even played things too safe in the second season, if you ask me.

God of War the show also appears similarly ambitious behind the scenes. The casting beyond this still image was well-received (Kratos actor Ryan Hurst lent his voice to Thor in the game). Production is underway, but a release isn’t viable until 2027 at the earliest. In the end, a single snapshot shouldn’t be an indictment. Merely a signal

And this signal is… confusing.

Less of an indication that the series will look bad, but rather how difficult it is to translate a digital legend into physical reality. Kratos was always larger than the world around him. Now he has to stand his ground in a real one. Whether this works won’t be decided in a promo image. It’ll only become clear when the camera starts moving.

Luca Fontana

Senior Editor

Luca.Fontana@digitecgalaxus.ch

I write about technology as if it were cinema, and about films as if they were real life. Between bits and blockbusters, I’m after stories that move people, not just generate clicks. And yes – sometimes I listen to film scores louder than I probably should.

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