House of the Dragon Star Abubakar Salim Channelled Kratos for Brutal Battle Scenes
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
House of the Dragon actor Abubakar Salim revealed in an interview with Polygon that he based his character Alyn of Hull on Kratos from God of War, channeling the iconic video game protagonist's deep-seated rage for the show's brutal battle sequences.
Actor Abubakar Salim is no stranger to the gaming world, having starred in Assassin's Creed Origins and founded his own game development studio. It turns out his deep connection to interactive entertainment even shaped his performance on the set of HBO's House of the Dragon. In a recent interview with Polygon, Salim revealed that he used the PlayStation icon Kratos from God of War as the primary blueprint for his character, Alyn of Hull. According to Salim, both characters share a heavy emotional burden tied to complicated relationships with their fathers, along with a simmering rage that powers them through moments of crisis.
Drawing parallels between the Ghost of Sparta and his Westeros sailor role, Salim noted that Alyn's power stems from an unkempt anger that he constantly tries to keep under wraps. That suppressed fury takes center stage during massive sequences like the Battle of the Gullet. Salim and co-star Abigail Thorn aimed to make the confrontation as brutal and epic as possible, with Salim leaning heavily into his inner nerd to channel Kratos while filming the intense combat choreography.
For modern gamers who balance prestige television with marathon gaming sessions, seeing high-profile actors openly draw inspiration from interactive media highlights how far gaming culture has permeated mainstream storytelling. As House of the Dragon gears up for its season 3 premiere on June 21, fans can keep an eye out for that distinct Spartan energy when Alyn of Hull heads back into the fray.
Tags: Gaming, House of the Dragon, God of War, Entertainment, Television
Original article: Polygon