Prime Video’s God of War series just locked in its first major villain, and it’s a casting move that feels right on target for fans of the games.
The Norse-era God of War titles reshaped the franchise, giving Kratos more emotional weight and grounding the story in his evolving relationship with Atreus.
That father-son dynamic hit hard, but the saga wouldn’t have worked nearly as well without powerful adversaries pushing Kratos to his limits. Now, as the live-action adaptation moves forward, we officially know who will bring one of the most unforgettable Norse gods to life.
Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios have announced that Ed Skrein will play Baldur, the central antagonist of God of War. Baldur is the son of Odin and Freya, and the first Norse god Kratos collides with in the game. His official character description stays true to the source material:
“Baldur may be the youngest son of Odin, but he’s his father’s most dangerous weapon. Charismatic, unpredictable and armed with a razor-sharp tongue, Baldur lives by his own rules.
“As a boy, Baldur was cursed; this curse denied him the ability to feel pleasure and physical sensation. This fuels an insatiable anger and bloodlust in Baldur, who favors a brawling fighting style that blends his immense power with the raw impact of his fists.
“Above all else, he longs for an opponent that can truly match his prowess in battle. An opponent that can finally make him feel something.”
If you’ve played the game, you know Baldur is a deeply damaged figure whose invulnerability is both his greatest weapon and his personal torment. Freya’s attempt to protect her son ended up stripping away his ability to feel anything at all. That emptiness twists into rage, and that rage drives everything he does.
Skrein feels like a natural fit for the role. He first caught genre fans’ attention as Ajax in Deadpool and later leaned further into villain territory in Alita: Battle Angel and Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon films. He has a way of blending charm with menace, and Baldur demands exactly that balance.
The character is fearless to the point of recklessness because he can’t feel pain. That makes him dangerous in a way that’s hard to predict, especially when he throws himself headfirst into a fight with Kratos.
Anyone who remembers the opening confrontation in God of War knows how intense that first clash is. It instantly establishes Baldur as a serious threat. Seeing Skrein reinterpret that showdown in live-action has the potential to be awesome.
What makes Baldur even more compelling is that he isn’t just a physical threat. His hatred toward Freya gives him emotional depth. He’s not evil for the sake of it. He’s furious, wounded, and desperate to feel something, anything. That complexity gives Skrein room to stretch beyond pure intimidation and tap into something more tragic.
Prime Video’s adaptation is already expanding the timeline by bringing in characters like Thor and Odin earlier than expected. That opens the door to exploring Baldur’s family dynamic in more detail.
Digging into his fractured relationship with Freya could serve as a powerful counterpoint to the evolving bond between Kratos and Atreus, giving the series a layered emotional core alongside the epic action.
With the success of Fallout and anticipation building for live-action adaptations of God of War and Tomb Raider, Prime Video clearly wants to become the home for high-quality video game series. Translating the scale and emotional weight of the Norse saga won’t be easy, but I like the casting so far.
For now, fans will have to wait to see Kratos and Baldur throw down in live-action.
