Summary
- The TV adaptation of God of War may feature Kratos facing off against multiple pantheons, expanding the scope of his challenges.
- The possibility of Egyptian, Celtic, Shinto, or Mayan gods uniting against Kratos could lead to an epic showdown in the series.
- The show has the creative freedom to explore different points in Kratos’ timeline, potentially delving into his interactions with various pantheons across the world.
A God of War adaptation is well under way at Prime Video. The television show, previously a film, is being developed by previous Star Trek producer Donald Moore. At the time of writing, fans know very little about the series. It has reportedly had multiple redrafts at this point, and so many have speculated about whom the titular God of War himself, Kratos, will be fighting next. A couple of popular pantheons have been thrown around so far, but to truly make a splash, the writers behind the show need to widen their gaze.
God of War has a dedicated fanbase who adore Kratos’ personal journey throughout the original trilogy of games and recent soft reboot of the franchise under Santa Monica Studios. The Ghost of Sparta has been through a cycle of loss, grief, and revenge, facing down the Greek gods of Olympus, decimating them and leaving Greece a smoky ruin. More recently, in the Norse Saga, Kratos has had a period of redemption, choosing an era of peace over vengeance. However, in order to do so, he did reluctantly have to murder the Nordic pantheon.
It seems wherever Kratos settles down, there is a line-up of sociopathic gods looking to take issue with him. The primary reason the Nordic gods took notice of Kratos in the first place is because they were scared of him, having heard of his reputation following his actions in Ancient Greece. Naturally, fans want to know who Kratos is facing off against next.
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The Egyptian Pantheon Is One Possibility
Multiple sources, like The Game Post, have suggested that the next God of War game could see Kratos traveling to Egypt for his next adventure. Well-known industry insider, Daniel Richtman, posted on his Patreon earlier this year that Sony were casting Middle Eastern actors for a mysterious new game title. Richtman added his own personal take on the new information:
“[it’s] likely to be the next God of War that explores Egyptian mythology.“
This would line up with other speculations made about a potential sequel. During the “Making Of” God of War documentary for the 2018 Santa Monica Studio release, the director of the franchise mentioned that the creative team had previously considered sending Kratos to Egypt. However, disagreements emerged within the game’s staff, and the Norse region ended up being preferable.
Multiple Pantheons Would Create Kratos’ Greatest Challenge Yet
It was confirmed in God of War (2018) and God of War: Ragnarök (2022) that multiple god-like groups exist in different lands across the world. Players learned about the existence of other mythologies through Kratos uncovering tapestries and information detailing Týr’s travels around the globe. Týr, the Nordic God of War, recorded the existence of other polytheistic societies that live apart from the Norse realm. This confirmed the existence of the half-human, half-animal Egyptian Gods, the Mayan Gods, and the Shinto Gods of Japan.
All these pantheons were described, in stark contrast to the brutality of the Asgardians, as wise and humble. Týr’s writings mention that the Mayans sought to gift humanity writing, farming, and sciences. They appear to be more benevolent than any of the gods Kratos has had the pleasure of greeting before. However, a lot of time passed between Týr’s travels and the events of God of War (2018). Much like the Greek and Nordic pantheons, it could be that all is not as it seems with these other gods.
Gamers are relying on Týr’s account being perfectly objective, and it may very well not be. What if these pantheons displayed a warm welcome to Týr, in an olive branch of sensible international relations, while secretly concealing their more sinister deeds? Or further still, so to not appear as a threat to Odin or the Nordic pantheon, they concealed their wrathful power in order to be left alone. In the time that has past, these gods could have also soured or changed their attitudes. Complex villains like Odin in Ragnarök prove that these figureheads are unstable and changeable people, primarily due to the level of power that they wield.
How Can The TV Show Incorporate Multiple New Pantheons?
The TV show possesses an interesting creative liberalism in its storytelling. Unlike the games, it doesn’t have to continue a pre-existing story. The God of War series can start from any point in Kratos’ timeline, whether that setting is his redemptive years up North, his origin story in Greece, or his unknown future after his tangle with the Aesir.
If the show does decide to follow up on Ragnarök’s story, it should consider pitting Kratos against several other pantheons. This would not only make for an amazing spectacle, seeing an embattled God of War fending off celestial forces on multiple fronts. It would also be an interesting development regarding Kratos’ worldly reputation. If word reaches the other pantheons that the Ghost of Sparta has not just dispatched one, but two, all-powerful groups of gods, the others may be worried that he is coming for them next. This could lead to the creation of some sort of international conspiracy of pantheons, all working together to take him down.
It would be great to see the Celtic, Shinto, or Mayan gods uniting, in a series reminiscent of shows like American Gods, to eliminate him as a threat. This could provoke Kratos to act and rid the world of their tyranny, ushering in the age of humanity. It would certainly be on point for his overarching journey as a character. Such a story would be great way to up the ante and emphasize what Kratos is all about as a character.
