The first-look image from Prime Video’s God of War series is already taking heat, and it’s not just random fans piling on.
David Jaffe, the creator of the God of War video games, posted a new reaction video Saturday, blasting the official photo as “so bad in so many ways.”
The image shows actor Ryan Hurst as Kratos in the woods with Atreus, and it came directly from Amazon Prime Video’s press release. Sony shared it, along with Prime Video and the official God of War accounts, so this wasn’t a leak or a fake.
David Jaffe Slams the First Look Image
Jaffe didn’t sugarcoat it. He said the frame was “so bad in so many ways,” and called it “dumb,” while also making it clear he isn’t attacking the people making the show.
“I’m sure everybody’s trying real hard, [but] it’s so dumb,” Jaffe said. He also added that he still believes the series can turn out strong because Ronald D. Moore is running it, calling Moore “a juggernaut of a talented fellow,” and saying he has “absolutely no doubt it is going to be a good show.”
“He Just Looks Stupid”
Jaffe said his issue isn’t that Ryan Hurst doesn’t perfectly match the game version of Kratos. He focused on the pose and expression, calling it a “dumb f-cking image.”
“Kratos in this pose with this expression… he just looks stupid,” Jaffe said, questioning why that’s the moment Amazon chose to introduce Kratos to a wider audience that may not know the games.
Jaffe also floated the idea that the shot might be a deliberate choice to emphasize the father-son angle over “Spartan rage,” but even then, he said they could have picked something less awkward. He joked the image looks like Kratos is “sh-tting in the woods.”
Watch the video:
Fans React, and Ryan Hurst Posts a Message
After the first look went public, fans also lit up social media with complaints.
Some even think Ryan Hurst responded to the backlash after posting an Instagram Story that read: “Don’t believe everything you see on the internet.”
The timing fueled speculation, but the image itself is official and came straight from Amazon Prime Video’s press release. Whatever Hurst meant, it wasn’t a case of a fake image spreading online.
What We Know About the God of War Series
Prime Video’s God of War has a two-season order and is currently filming in Vancouver. The series follows Kratos and Atreus as they travel to spread the ashes of Faye, with Kratos trying to teach his son to be a better god while Atreus tries to teach his father to be a better human.
Ronald D. Moore is showrunner, executive producer, and writer. Emmy-winning director Frederick E.O. Toye is directing the first two episodes. A release date hasn’t been announced.
