'God Of War' Finds Its Kratos: 5 Movies & TV Shows To Get To Know Ryan Hurst
Amazon Prime Video's live-action God of War series comes with big expectations from gamers, and much of it lives and dies on casting. With Kratos voice actor, Christopher Judge, adored by fans of God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök (2022), many anxiously awaited the announcement of Kratos' live-action casting to see if he could possibly fill Judge's shoes. With Ryan Hurst now officially in the role, fans can finally feel at ease. (At least it's not Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, right?) Hurst, of course, is already part of the God of War universe since he famously voiced Thor in the Ragnarök video game.
On screen, most people probably know Hurst from Sons of Anarchy (2008), but it's far from his only significant role. While his most recent appearance was in The Abandons (2025) and he will also feature in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey (2026), here are five of the best Ryan Hurst movies and shows to get to know the actor before he debuts as Kratos, ranked in order of how important they are. Find them on streamers like Netflix, Hulu, and more.
Wondering if Ryan Hurst can convey Kratos' often silent but intimidating persona? Look no further than The Walking Dead. If you fell off the zombie series in Season 7 with everyone else because of that death, then you missed, in my opinion, the best villain in TWD: Alpha (Samantha Morton). While Alpha chews the scenery every moment she gets, Hurst manages to maintain focus as her right-hand, Beta, which is extra impressive when you consider he isn't much of a talker.
Like many of Hurst's roles, he plays Beta as deeply loyal and intimidating, but beneath his hard (and let's be real, gross) exterior is an element of tragedy. Because Beta only appears in 14 episodes of a very long-running series, including a brief cameo in Fear the Walking Dead (2015), it ranks last on this list. Yet, in some ways, it might be one of the better showcases of Hurst's potential as Kratos.
If you're a fan of Psycho (1960), then watching Bates Motel is a must. Even if you've never seen the original Alfred Hitchcock masterpiece, the prequel series is a welcoming starting point for fans of dark psychological dramas like The Following (2013) or Hannibal (2013). The true stars of this demented story are Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) and his mother, Norma (Vera Farmiga). However, Ryan Hurst plays an important 15-episode role throughout Season 3 to 5.
His character, Chick Hogan, isn't quite as villainous as Beta, but he is just eccentric and mysterious enough to leave you questioning his true intentions. Although he takes on a more complex anti-hero role in Season 5, I promise you won't quite know what to make of him every time he's on screen.
Remember the Titans marks one of Ryan Hurst's earlier substantial roles. Here, he plays Gerry Bertier, a real-life high school football player who became paralyzed after a car crash and later tragically passed away in another one. The racial tension faced by Denzel Washington's Herman Boone remains the focal point of the story. However, Hurst delivers a strong performance alongside him.
Although Remember the Titans can feel cheesy at times, it remains an inspirational story about overcoming adversity that any fan of sports dramas can appreciate. For those just wanting to see Hurst closer to the beginning of his career with a bit more material to work with than he got in Saving Private Ryan (1998), Remember the Titans is an easy choice that you'll also most likely enjoy.
At this point, Ryan Hurst's aptitude for playing rugged on-the-fringes-of-society characters isn't surprising. While Outsiders flew under the radar for many, Hurts was a standout in its two-season run. Appearing in all 26 episodes of the show, he plays Lil Foster, the eldest son in the mountain-dwelling, backwoods-living Farrell clan. In some ways, Lil Foster has a lot in common with Hurst's character in Sons of Anarchy (mentioned next on this list). He is a loyal enforcer, but behind all the beard and bravado, he reeks of vulnerability and relatable struggles.
Outsiders is all about a family fighting to preserve their land and way of life. Think of it like Yellowstone (2018), just with a rural, Appalachian makeover. It leans a little silly at times, but it's the ultimate hidden gem if you're looking for a new drama series to binge and think you've seen everything on TV.
Chances are, if you already know and love Ryan Hurst, it's because of Sons of Anarchy. The Kurt Sutter-created series chronicles the criminal plots, drama, and betrayals among an outlaw motorcycle club, making it the perfect seven-season binge watch for crime drama fans. While Charlie Hunnam takes the lead as Jax Teller, Hurst plays his right-hand man and best friend, Opie.
Honestly, it's hard to watch Sons of Anarchy without falling in love with Opie. His unyielding loyalty and desire to live a "normal" life make him one of the show's more relatable characters. Hurst brings an underlying edge of empathy to the character that makes him unforgettable. To this day, whenever I see Hurst on my screen, I tend to go, "Hey, that's Opie," because that's how impactful this role was for me and so many others. Just brace yourself for some tears.
