Amazon Studios head Vernon Sanders assures fans the first season is ‘incredibly true to the source material,’ despite the synopsis seemingly omitting game events preceding 2018’s ‘God of War’ soft reboot.
Conflicting news is emerging about Prime Video's upcoming live-action series adaptation of fan-favorite video game God of War. Will it remain faithful to the source material, or cut out huge chunks of backstory? According to the upcoming show’s synopsis, it appears the series will adapt the 2018 soft reboot game God of War, seemingly ignoring lore from its earlier PS2 and PS3 roots.
“When his beloved wife dies, Kratos sets off on a dangerous journey with his estranged son to spread her ashes from the highest peak — his wife’s final wish,” reads the summary. “Kratos soon realizes the journey is an epic quest in disguise, one which will test the bonds between father and son, and force Kratos to battle new gods and monsters for the fate of the world.”
In the previous games, Kratos has a rich backstory involving revenge, Zeus, and insane murdering sprees before he becomes a “reformed father” in the more recent games. While his past can most certainly be told in flashbacks, understanding how far he has come is essential to appreciating his moves to become a good example for his son.
Thankfully, Amazon Studios head Vernon Sanders has assured fans of the outlet’s ability to remain faithful to the source material. “We do incredibly well with adaptations, from Invincible to The Boys,” Sanders told Collider. “I mean, we just covered so many of them, right? And so, we know that there's such a passionate fan base for God of War. But the thing that we're always looking for is whether there is a real emotional core, if there's a real narrative story, and I think [that’s] part of what makes God of War so special."
Sanders continues, “What [showrunner Rafe Judkins] and [writers Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby] have come up with for the first season, and for the series, I think, is both incredibly true to the source material, and also compelling on its own. If you never played the game, you will fall in love with the show and feel very much invited in. So, we think it's going to be huge."
If Amazon Studios can truly nail the significance of Kratos’ reform, the series is sure to be a hit. After all, every adaptation must adjust to its new medium and audience. We’ve got our axes sharpened and our tankards ready for the show.
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