Dave Bautista is officially set to play Kratos in Prime Video’s live-action God of War series, replacing Ryan Hurst after the actor was forced to leave the role following an injury.
The casting had been rumored earlier this month, when reports suggested Bautista was in talks with Amazon. That move has now been confirmed.
Bautista replaces Ryan Hurst as Kratos
Hurst suffered a torn bicep while performing a stunt for the series and underwent surgery. His recovery period was reportedly too long to fit the production schedule, leading to the decision to recast Kratos rather than delay filming.
The change comes relatively late in production. Several episodes had already been partially filmed with Hurst, meaning Kratos scenes will reportedly need to be reshot with Bautista. The series has already been commissioned for two seasons.
Bautista is best known for roles such as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy, Glossu Rabban in the Dune films, and Duke Cody in Glass Onion. His combination of physical presence and dramatic experience makes him an obvious fit for the older, more restrained version of Kratos introduced in 2018’s God of War.
Kratos may not be the only recast
Interestingly, the production may already be preparing for more cast changes, although for very different reasons.
As we reported previously, casting information suggests that Atreus and Thrud could be recast for Season 2, with the production reportedly seeking older teenage performers.
The likely explanation is a time jump reflecting the gap between God of War and God of War Ragnarök, where Atreus is noticeably older. Amazon and Sony have not officially confirmed those Season 2 replacements.
That makes Bautista’s situation distinct. Hurst’s departure was forced by an injury and production timing, while any future Atreus or Thrud changes may simply be part of adapting the games’ passage of time.
Prime Video has not announced a release date for the live-action God of War series.
Revisit the beginning of Kratos and Atreus’ Norse journey
God of War
Release Date: April 20, 2018
Genres: Action, Adventure, RPG