Turning the franchise’s focus to the old gods of Norse mythology, God of War Ragnarok will bring further attention to iconic figures such as Thor and Odin. That being said, fans should expect the portrayal of such an important god like Odin to be different from other popular media, such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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What’s to Come in God of War Ragnarok
God of War Ragnarok is the ninth installment to s storied, longstanding franchise, carrying forward the story of Kratos and his son Atreus from the massively successful 2018 reboot by moving a number of years into the future as the end of the world approaches. Set to release on November 9, hype surrounding the title is only growing as more information is becoming available to fans.
Ragnarok boasts the familiar action-adventure mechanics of its predecessors, and continuing to explore the rich world of Norse mythology and its often malicious gods. Of these gods, Odin is undoubtedly the most powerful and intimidating, and is confirmed to appear after merely being teased in 2018. The series has already established the unique way in which it will attempt to portray the Norse gods, meaning Odin may surprise a lot of fans who might expect something akin to the Odin from the MCU Thor films.
Odin In the Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Odin that many fans have seen in the MCU will likely be very different to the interpretation in Ragnarok. This can also be said of the MCU’s version of Thor, who is very different from the more traditional take on this character portrayed throughout God of War.
Odin in the MCU is a more outwardly regal and refined interpretation of the god, with Anthony Hopkins adding an element of wizened prestige to the character. While this version of Odin can be angry and ruthless at times, this behavior is often in stark contrast to his usual behavior of calm confidence and patience. With God of War Ragnarok seemingly going for a more lore-accurate approach with its godly portrayals, a very different Odin will be present.
Odin in God of War Ragnarok
The key character art for Thor in God of War Ragnarok has already been revealed, showcasing a much less glamorous and conventionally attractive figure from what fans have come to expect from the character within an MCU context. Using this as a barometer for the upcoming title’s character design ethos, it can be assumed that Odin will also take a more grounded and rough-around-the-edges form.
Within the lore established by God of War, Odin remains a powerful and mighty figure, but one plagued with intense paranoia and an almost immature level of arrogance and impatience. Given the potentially cataclysmic events that Ragnarok will explore, it is likely that fans may see a portrayal of Odin at his most lore-accurate level of emotional torment, largely fueling the core plot.
With Odin willing to do anything to cheat death and his fate during the prophesied apocalyptic event known as Ragnarok, the figure that fans will see is undoubtedly more hot-headed and flawed in comparison to Marvel’s ethereal and stoic portrayal. While official art for Ragnarok’s Odin has yet to be revealed, a much darker portrayal is to be expected, thematically matching the tone of the franchise that sneers at uncaring gods.
God of War Ragnarok is scheduled to release on November 9, 2022, for PlayStation 4 and 5.
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