Dave Bautista has been cast as Kratos in the upcoming Prime Video God of War TV series after original actor Ryan Hurst tore his bicep during a stunt, forcing production to restart in summer 2026 and scrap several episodes [1, 2, 3]. Bautista began intensive weight training around August 2026 to regain the muscular physique needed for the role and is about three weeks into a three-month preparation period ahead of filming [1, 2, 3]. "Third week into weight training again, two more months to get to where I need to be. Like ridin a bike! LFG!" Bautista said [3].
The showrunner for the series is Ronald D. Moore [1, 3]. The first season’s story will closely follow the 2018 God of War game, focusing on Kratos and his son Atreus spreading the ashes of their deceased spouse and mother Faye [1].
Bautista’s casting has been welcomed by fans, especially compared to the previous choice of Ryan Hurst, whose appearance as Kratos sparked ridicule for not capturing the character’s menacing look [1]. Bautista, known for roles in Guardians of the Galaxy, Blade Runner 2049, and Dune Part 2, was praised by Sony’s head of PlayStation productions, Asad Qizilbash, for bringing "extraordinary presence, depth, and humanity" to the role [3].
After years as a wrestler and action star, Bautista had lost muscle mass but is now working hard to bulk up again within the limited time before filming [2]. Christopher Judge, the voice actor of Kratos in the current games, auditioned but declined the live-action role due to its physical demands at his age [2].
Production is expected to fully resume with Bautista in October 2026 [2].
