Amazon casts Dave Bautista as Kratos after Ryan Hurst injury
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
Amazon MGM's God of War TV series has reportedly settled on its replacement Kratos, with Deadline confirming Dave Bautista is in talks to take over from Ryan Hurst, whose on-set injury forced surgery and a lengthy recovery. Rather than delay production, the studio opted to recast the lead role, and Bautista's involvement would begin once he finishes filming the Highlander remake, for which he has bulked up after slimming down for recent varied roles. The casting news matters given the franchise's high profile and Bautista's established action pedigree from Guardians of the Galaxy, Dune and Knock at the Cabin.
The recasting extends beyond Kratos: Callum Vinson and Island Austin will also be replaced as Atreus and Thrud for the show's second season. The series follows Kratos and his son as they journey to scatter the ashes of Faye, Kratos's wife, with a cast including Mandy Patinkin, Ed Skrein and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson. Ronald D. Moore serves as showrunner, the series has a two-season order on Prime Video, and Frederick E.O. Toye will direct the first two episodes.
- Dave Bautista reportedly in talks to replace injured Ryan Hurst as Kratos
- Atreus and Thrud actors also being recast for season two
- God of War series has a two-season order, streams on Prime Video
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Amazon MGM's God of War is a live-action television adaptation of Sony's long-running PlayStation video game series, which follows the warrior Kratos and his son Atreus. The show has been in production with Prime Video and carries a two-season order, with Ronald D. Moore serving as showrunner and a cast that includes Mandy Patinkin, Ed Skrein and Teresa Palmer.
Ryan Hurst was originally cast as the lead character, Kratos, and had begun filming before sustaining an on-set injury that required surgery and a long recovery. Dave Bautista, known for the Guardians of the Galaxy films, Dune and Knock at the Cabin, is a wrestler-turned-actor who has recently taken on physically demanding roles, including a bulked-up transformation for a Highlander remake.
The casting question matters because it affects whether and when production can continue, and because replacing a lead actor partway through filming is unusual and carries implications for the show's schedule and continuity, alongside separate changes to other cast members for the second season.
More coverage
- Variety — ‘God of War’: Dave Bautista in Talks For Kratos Role in Amazon Series After Ryan Hurst’s Exit
- Deadline — Dave Bautista In Talks To Play Kratos In ‘God Of War’, Replacing Ryan Hurst In Amazon Series
- The Hollywood Reporter — Dave Bautista Eyes ‘God of War’ Lead Role as Kratos
- GamesRadar+ — Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista reportedly in talks to play Kratos in the God of War Prime Video series following previous lead's exit
- Push Square — Ex-Wrestler Dave Bautista in Talks to Take Over from Ryan Hurst as Kratos in God of War TV Show
- IGN — Dave Bautista in Talks to Join God of War TV Series as Kratos
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Originally published by Polygon as “God of War TV series casts Dave Bautista as new Kratos”.