Dave Bautista is set to play Kratos in Amazon’s live-action God of War series, replacing Ryan Hurst after an injury forced Amazon and Sony to recast him. Variety confirmed Bautista’s casting around two weeks after their initial report that the former WWE wrestler and Guardians of the Galaxy actor was in negotiations for the part.
Hurst suffered a torn bicep while performing a stunt on set in June and required surgery, which would have prevented him from returning to production until 2027. Amazon subsequently decided to recast Kratos rather than suspend filming for that long, with every scene already filmed with Hurst now needing to be reshot.
Dave Bautista is officially set to play Kratos in the “God of War” TV series at Amazon Prime Video:
— Variety (@Variety) August 20, 2026
• Earlier this month, Variety reported that Bautista was in talks to play the role after Ryan Hurst, who was announced as Kratos in January 2026, suffered a torn bicep onset that… pic.twitter.com/Xhb9XaTaBp
Filming began in Vancouver in February before Hurst’s injury stopped production. Amazon has ordered two seasons that will be filmed back-to-back, and Variety says production is expected to resume in the coming weeks now that Bautista has taken the role.
Bautista spent more than a decade in WWE before moving into acting and is best known for playing Drax across the Guardians of the Galaxy films and other Marvel projects. His other credits include Dune, Dune: Part Two, Blade Runner 2049, Knock at the Cabin, Spectre, and Army of the Dead. He has also worked with Amazon MGM Studios on The Wrecking Crew and the My Spy films, with Road House 2 and Highlander among his other projects for the studio.
Amazon’s God of War adapts the Norse storyline that began with Santa Monica Studio’s 2018 game rather than starting with Kratos’ earlier murder spree through the Greek pantheon of GOds. Kratos and his 10-year-old son Atreus travel to spread the ashes of Faye, Kratos’ wife and Atreus’ mother, while their relationship develops during their encounters with the Norse pantheon.
Callum Vinson plays Atreus alongside Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Max Parker as Heimdall, Teresa Palmer as Sif, and Ed Skrein as Baldur. Alastair Duncan reprises his video game role as Mimir, while Danny Woodburn and Jeff Gulka play the dwarven brothers Brok and Sindri.
There are additional rumors that Amazon is looking to recast Atreus and Thrud, played by Island Austin, for the second season. According to the casting call discovered by MP1st, Amazon is looking to age the characters up.
Amazon’s God of War doesn’t have a release date set yet.
