The first look at the God of War live-action TV show adaptation hit the internet last week, and fans are clearly unhappy. The screenshot shared online has received a lot of criticism from fans of the series, with some calling it an “SNL skit.”
Fans react to God of War live-action’s Kratos and Atreus first look
On February 27, Amazon Prime shared the first look, a screenshot, from its live-action God of War TV show. The image, shared on the show’s official social media accounts, has drawn criticism from fans of the games.
The image showcases Atreus (Callum Vinson) aiming his bow, seemingly at a target out of the frame. Meanwhile, Kratos (Ryan Hurst) crouches beside him. It was accompanied by a caption, “Father and Son. Behold your first look at Kratos and Atreus in the God of War series now in production for @primevideo. Their journey to the highest peak begins.”
Fans would recognize it as a scene from the early moments of the 2018 game, when Kratos teaches Atreus how to track and hunt a deer. While it indicates that the show is closely adapting scenes from the games, fans have questioned the overall look.
Across all platforms, fans have disapproved, with some users saying they mistook the image for an AI-generated one. “Looks like an SNL skit. Shame,” replied one user on Instagram. Meanwhile, a second user wrote, “Who even approved of this? Fire him.”
Many users also remarked that it looks like a cosplay rather than an authentic recreation. A lot of the criticism is also focused on the titular character’s physique. “Did you forget to tell him he’s playing the God of War and that a gym exists?” remarked one fan.
Given that the show has just entered production, it is highly likely that the released image has not yet undergone post-production. So, fans will have to wait until an official teaser or trailer to completely understand how the show will ultimately turn out.
God of War has been a staple franchise for PlayStation’s LA-based Santa Monica Studio. In the 2018 series, Kratos has left his Greek past behind and restarted his life with his second wife, Faye, in the Norse lands. Following her tragic death, he and Atreus begin their journey to the highest peak in all of the nine realms to spread her ashes. But they soon find themselves in a war against the Norse gods.
