Wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy, Knock at the Cabin) is in early discussions to replace Ryan Hurst as Kratos on the upcoming God of War television series, as first reported by Deadline. Last month, Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Television disclosed they would recast the titular God of War after Hurst suffered a bicep injury during production.
While nothing is confirmed, Deadline’s report is lent credibility by the fact that the number of actors that could feasibly replace Hurst is an exceedingly short list. In the 2018 game, which the Amazon series is set to loosely adapt, Kratos has an overwhelming physical presence, one that allows him to uproot entire pantheons and rip monsters apart with his bare hands. Bautista makes sense, especially since he just finished production on Highlander, another physically demanding fantasy project.
God of War, which follows the Greek-born Kratos as he travels with his son Atreus (Callum Vinson) in an unfamiliar world of Norse gods, began shooting in Vancouver in February (via Deadline). Information about the series has been largely limited to casting announcements, and what few sneak peeks Amazon has released have been met with mixed reception — original God of War creator David Jaffe mocked the first look for the series, remarking that Kratos looks like “he’s sh*tting in the woods” in one image.
Though losing their lead actor and six months of production outweighs any silver lining of Hurst’s injury, especially to Hurst himself, a new actor may provide Amazon MGM Studios with an opportunity to recalibrate and redefine their chosen direction for Kratos. The Last of Us, PlayStation Studios’ last foray into live-action adaptation, was a massive success for both themselves and producer HBO; Amazon is undoubtedly aiming for similar results.
Per Deadline, preparations for resuming production are expected to begin soon, with the studio aiming for a return to Vancouver mid-October. Should that be the case, Amazon will have to move quickly in signing Bautista, especially since all of Hurst’s scenes as Kratos must now be redone. God of War will release on Amazon Prime Video worldwide on an undisclosed future date. A second season for the show has already been green-lit.