Dave Bautista, known for his roles in *Guardians of the Galaxy* and *Dune*, is reportedly being considered to take on the lead role of Kratos in the live-action *God of War* series. This development follows the departure of Ryan Hurst, who was forced to leave the production due to an on-set injury.
Hurst, 50, sustained a torn bicep while performing a stunt in late June, four months into filming. The injury required surgery and a lengthy recovery period, making it unsafe for him to continue with the action scenes required for the series for up to a year. He had already filmed four episodes, which are now expected to be reshot with a new actor.
Production on the Amazon series was paused immediately after Hurst's injury, and a decision was made to recast Kratos. According to Deadline, producers believe Bautista, a former professional wrestler, possesses the necessary physique to perform the role without extensive training that other actors might require. Prep for the new actor is expected to begin in mid-August.
The *God of War* series, an adaptation of the popular video game franchise, was announced by Amazon in 2022. Developed by Ronald D Moore, it follows Kratos and his son Atreus (Callum Vinson) on a journey to spread the ashes of Faye, their wife and mother.