The enormous success of The Witcher TV shows means that Netflix should expand its list of adaptations and start working on a God of War series next. Like The Witcher, a God of War series already has a built-in audience stemming from an incredibly popular video game franchise, and a wealth of source material primed for episodic storytelling.
The God of War game franchise has been around since 2005, when it became one of the main titles promoted for PlayStation gaming consoles. Rooted in Greek mythology, the game follows Spartan warrior Kratos,as he seeks revenge against the pantheon of Olympian gods. Kratos was tricked into murdering his family by the god of war, Ares, and vows to avenge their deaths.
God of War has already proven itself to be a huge success as a game franchise, and could further prove to be one of Netflix’s next flagship series. Though The Witcher was based on Andrzej Sapkowski's original novels, the popularity of the games definitely contributed to fan demand for the show.
The Witcher series has on to an overarching storyline focused on the power of fate and destiny, but each episode is formatted in a way where Geralt tackles a new mission, fighting a different monster before moving on to the next town. Netflix could also use this same storytelling technique with a God of War series, incorporating this kind of self-contained, episodic adventure format. Separating Kratos’ missions into episodes would give the audience a slow and measured introduction to the character, offering a chance to see more of his world and the monsters he fights.
The Witcher showrunner Lauren Hissrich was able to flesh out many of the story’s main characters and humanize them, allowing the audience to connect to them on a deeper level. For a God of War series, a show would also be able to expand upon what the games already started and take the characters to a new level.
The fantasy setting was also very important in Netflix’s The Witcher. The elaborate costumes and set design transformed the story into something that felt real to the audience. Netflix could use this same approach to bring a God of War series to life, if the streaming platform was willing to shell out a similar budget. The ancient Greek world portrayed in the game is rife with color and texture, and could be beautifully translated into live-action, to entice fans of the games and those who love Greek mythology alike.
Netflix has already proven that they can adapt a story from books and games and turn it into a popular television show. After plans for a God of War movie failed to get off the ground, game director Cory Barlog expressed his belief that the series would make for a perfect Netflix adaptation. Not only would The Witcher's audience be likely to return for a similar show,God of War fans would also be very excited to see Kratos (and his bloodlust) brought to life.