With its sheer size and storyline, God of War's Prime Video live-action adaptation has garnered attention. But the biggest talk so far about the production has been when the actor for Thor was cast as Icelandic actor Ólafur Darri Ólafsson. Many are considering this to be a defining moment in how Thor will be depicted in future live-action adaptations.For years, the vast majority of the general public has seen the film version of Thor from the Marvel movies, played by Chris Hemsworth, as epitomizing the character. While his portrayal has been very iconic, it has also been somewhat light-hearted humor with heroic characteristics. The depiction of Thor from the Marvel films has greatly influenced how the general public has viewed the character of Thor.But the Thor who appears in the God of War games is different. He is heavier, darker, and more troubled. He is not a charming hero. He is violent, angry, and weighed down by his past. By choosing Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Prime Video seems to be moving away from the old style of Thor and closer to the game's deeper and more serious direction. This has created excitement among fans who wanted a fresh take on the Norse god.Why Ólafur Darri Ólafsson's casting in God of War matters so much?Casting Ólafur Darri Ólafsson signifies what direction the show will be going in. Thor in the God of War series is more than just a warrior. He is a force of nature who has lived a life full of regret, has had a hard past with Odin, and is someone who has anger within him and brings forth his anger to create his reality. The games portray him as not being a clean-cut superhero but rather someone who is very dangerous, twisted, and very intimidating. In the games, Thor is not depicted as an idealized superhero but rather as a being with flaws and issues.Ólafsson's grounded quality makes him a good fit for this particular version. He has been able to deliver great depth and substance to his characters, exhibiting tremendous presence in Severance, Trapped, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. He has the right physical attributes for Thor, who was made to have a huge, strongman-type body, in contrast to the more polished Thor of Marvel Movies.Most people tend to think that having Thor cast means that the show will be depicting the God of War series in terms of the same emotional tone, which is one of the characteristics of the game. An actor playing Thor needs to demonstrate a range of emotions like anger, sadness, strength, and fear. Ólafsson seems to be a good fit for this.This signifies Norse Gods as they have historically been depicted in the ongoing saga of Norse mythology. These gods were illustrated primarily as comic-book superpowered heroes rather than human-like figures. Norse gods will most likely be shown in this fashion, with more expected adaptations due to the continued rise in popularity of myth-inspired content streamed over many platforms.What does the casting mean for the God of War's future and the larger Norse trend?Along with the announcement of Thor, Prime Video has also announced the casting of Ryan Hurst as Kratos, which, according to many fans, makes their confidence in the show much greater. The show is only in pre-production; therefore, it is likely to be released sometime around 2027. The combination of Ryan Hurst as Kratos and the lack of any kind of footage means that there is more than enough time for the show to have a lot of thought put into its choices.Because the God of War series has one of the world's largest gaming fandoms, it is very important to take the time to develop this show properly. God of War has a strong mix of Norse mythology and emotional drama in a way that fans want to have those things reflected in the show correctly. Thor is also important in Norse mythology and plays a very important role in God of War: Ragnarok and in how both Kratos and Atreus go through their quests. So the actor playing Thor must be able to hold that dramatic weight.The different directions these two shows take additionally help differentiate each project because Thor has been shown to audiences so many times that they are familiar with the character in the Marvel Universe's movies, and he will return to the big screen again in Avengers: Doomsday, which is to be released in December 2026. While Marvel's portrayal of the character will remain bright and humorous, Prime Video's version will be much darker, more serious, and more realistic than previous portrayals.Currently, fans are waiting for further updates, trailers, and news on production statuses. However, according to what we have seen so far, it looks like God of War will provide an all-new take on Norse mythology, with Thor being depicted in a much more serious manner without his typical comic-relief characteristics. He will be portrayed as a very human and troubled deity.