Dave Bautista in Talks to Replace Injured Ryan Hurst as Kratos in Amazon's God of War Series
Amazon is considering former WWE wrestler Dave Bautista to take over the role of Kratos after Ryan Hurst suffered a bicep injury, while the rest of the cast remains unchanged.
Amazon Prime's live-action adaptation of the video-game franchise God of War is recasting the lead role after actor Ryan Hurst tore a bicep on set and will undergo months of rehabilitation. Variety reports that former WWE star Dave Bautista is in negotiations with the streaming service to replace Hurst as Kratos.
Bautista, who previously portrayed Drax in the Guardians of the Galaxy films and has appeared in titles such as Dune, Blade Runner 2049 and Glass Onion, has also contributed to video-game projects, including a model-swap role in Gears 5.
Deadline previously noted that four episodes had been filmed before Hurst’s injury, but it is unclear whether that footage will be used. The series' remaining cast members—including Callum Vinson as Atreus, Ed Skrein as Baldur, and Mandy Patinkin as Odin—are slated to continue in their roles. The show, which adapts the 2018 God of War game, has been ordered for two seasons.
"We remain fully committed to delivering a high-quality adaptation of the beloved franchise," a spokesperson for the production said.
The next installment in the franchise, God of War Laufey, is scheduled for release in February.