Dave Bautista has replaced Ryan Hurst as Kratos in Amazon’s upcoming live-action God of War series. Production is expected to resume in mid-October, and scenes already filmed with Hurst as Kratos will be shot again.

Hurst had been announced for the lead role earlier in the year. He is known for playing Thor in God of War Ragnarök, but his casting as Kratos received a mixed response from fans who had hoped Bautista would take the role.

Why Ryan Hurst Left the Kratos Role

Ryan Hurst suffered a serious bicep injury while filming a stunt for the series. The injury required surgery and would have pushed the production restart back to 2027.

Amazon and co-producer Sony chose to recast Kratos rather than wait for Hurst’s recovery. Before the injury, Hurst had reportedly gained 40 pounds of muscle for the part and had begun to more closely resemble the character.

Dave Bautista Takes on Kratos

Bautista’s casting fulfills a long-running wish among fans who wanted to see him play Kratos in a video game adaptation.

The role may require a different physical preparation from Bautista. In 2024, he said he had lost 75 pounds after feeling “uncomfortably big” from rapidly bulking up for Knock at the Cabin. He also said he wanted to feel more physically comfortable, protect his joints, and move away from being typecast as a large, muscular actor.

Playing Kratos will likely mean Bautista adds considerable size again for the series.

Amazon’s God of War Story and Production Plan

Amazon has ordered two seasons of the God of War series, with both seasons set to be filmed back-to-back.

The show will adapt the story of the most recent God of War games. Kratos and his son, Atreus, will travel together to spread the ashes of Faye, Kratos’s wife and Atreus’s mother.

The series will be Amazon’s latest major video game-based production. Amazon has also found success with Fallout, another adaptation based on a well-known game franchise.

Bautista’s History With Video Game Roles

This will be Dave Bautista’s first role in a video game-based TV show or movie. However, he has previously expressed interest in appearing in a Gears of War film.

In 2018, Bautista said he was pushing for a Gears of War movie to be made with the rights holders. A film did not happen, though Bautista later appeared as a playable character in Gears 5.