The God of Thunder has been found. Icelandic actor Ólafur Darri Ólafsson has officially been cast as Thor in Prime Video’s live-action God of War series, a co-production between Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios in association with PlayStation Productions and Tall Ship Productions.
Ólafsson joins the series following the recent announcement that Ryan Hurst will portray Kratos, the franchise’s lead character.
The show is based on PlayStation’s blockbuster mythological video game franchise, with this new adaptation set to follow the events of the Norse-era games, including the father-son saga of Kratos and Atreus.
Thor is described as: “A mountain of a man who has weathered many a battle in his time, but whose actions in a war fought long ago now haunt his waking hours. Once the loyal soldier of Asgard and his father’s right-hand man, Thor is now but a shadow of his former self as he drowns himself in alcohol and tries not to think of the price he paid. Keeping his wife and children at arm’s length has only deepened his isolation, but the power (and danger) of the God of Thunder is still there just beneath the surface.”
Update: Mandy Patinkin has also been cast as Odin, described as: “Odin, the All-Father, is not physically imposing or particularly god-like, but looks can be deceiving. He is the most powerful Aesir god, a patriarch who leads with an iron fist and an unrivaled seeker of knowledge. When it comes to seeking out prophecy, Odin is paranoid, manipulative and dangerous— he will do anything to try and prevent Ragnarök, the Norse end of days. He serves as a formidable antagonist to Kratos (Ryan Hurst).”
Thor’s Story: Broken, Dangerous, and Haunted
This version of Thor is no heroic thunder god, he’s a war-torn giant of a man burdened by his violent past. Once Odin’s most trusted enforcer and the right hand of Asgard’s fury, Thor now finds himself haunted by the price of those battles. Drowning in alcohol and estranged from his wife and children, his legendary strength still simmers beneath the surface, ready to erupt.
Ólafsson is known for his work in Severance, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and Trapped, and is also set to appear as Drago in Universal’s upcoming live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake.
More Gods Join the Fight
Also confirmed in the cast are Teresa Palmer (Hacksaw Ridge, A Discovery of Witches) as Phoebe/Sif, Thor’s wife and the goddess of family, and Max Parker (Vampire Academy, Emmerdale) as Heimdall, the all-seeing Watchman of Asgard and one of Odin’s sons.
Series Overview
The God of War series centers on Kratos and his 10-year-old son Atreus as they embark on a deeply personal journey to honor the final wish of Kratos’ late wife: to spread her ashes from the highest peak. Along the way, they battle gods, monsters, and their own inner demons.
Emmy-winning director Frederick E.O. Toye (Shōgun, The Boys, Fallout) is directing the first two episodes. The show is helmed by Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica, Outlander) as showrunner, with Cory Barlog, the creative director of the God of War games, also executive producing.
Deadline first reporting on the casting of Ólafur Darri Ólafsson.
