Dave Bautista in talks to replace Ryan Hurst as Kratos in God of War

Dave Bautista is in talks to replace Ryan Hurst as Kratos in Amazon’s God of War series, after Hurst tore a bicep on the Vancouver set in June, triggering a monthslong recast.

TL;DR

• Bautista is negotiating to take over as Kratos after Hurst tore a bicep on set in late June.
• Hurst’s recovery is expected to stretch into 2027, prompting the recast, according to Deadline.
• Prep work is set to begin in mid-August, with filming due to resume in Vancouver by mid-October.
• English actor Ed Skrein remains attached as Baldur, alongside Mandy Patinkin and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson.

What happened to Ryan Hurst

Hurst was originally cast as Kratos in January 2026 and reportedly gained nearly 40 pounds for the role. He tore a bicep while performing a stunt in late June, four months into filming, Deadline reported.

The injury required surgery. Production paused immediately, and a decision to recast followed a couple of weeks later — a shift we covered in detail at the time.

Why Bautista is the frontrunner

Multiple outlets, including Variety and Game Informer, report Bautista is in talks to take the role. He’s best known for playing Drax across six Marvel Cinematic Universe films, alongside roles in Dune, Blade Runner 2049 and Glass Onion.

Bautista’s wrestling background and history with physically demanding roles make him well suited to step in on short notice, Just Jared noted. He recently bulked up for his upcoming Highlander film.

A representative for Amazon declined to comment, Variety said.

4 episodes Filmed before production paused Source: Game Informer

What’s next for God of War

Prep work is expected to begin in mid-August, with production restarting in Vancouver by mid-October, according to Deadline. Four episodes had already been filmed before the pause, and it’s unclear whether that footage will be used, per Game Informer.

Prime Video has ordered two seasons of the series, based on the PlayStation game franchise — the latest in a run of video-game-to-television bets that has also brought Life Is Strange to the platform. The show follows Kratos and his son Atreus as they journey to scatter the ashes of Faye, Kratos’s late wife.

The UK connection

English actor Ed Skrein, known for Deadpool and Alex Rider, is still attached to the series as Baldur, per Game Informer’s cast rundown. His involvement gives British audiences a familiar face to watch for once God of War eventually lands on Prime Video UK.

The rest of the confirmed cast includes Callum Vinson as Atreus, Max Parker as Heimdall, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Alastair Duncan as Mimir, Danny Woodburn as Brok and Jeff Gulka as Sindri. Ronald D. Moore serves as showrunner — Amazon’s recast of Robocop earlier this year shows the studio isn’t shy about shaking up its genre slate when it thinks a project needs it.

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Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed 4 August 2026.