Dave Bautista confirmed as Kratos in Amazon Prime Video’s God of War series

Dave Bautista has been officially confirmed to play Kratos in Amazon Prime Video’s God of War television series, the production announced on August 21, 2026. Bautista replaces Ryan Hurst, who had been cast earlier but stepped away after suffering an on-set injury.

Ryan Hurst was announced as Kratos in January 2026 and suffered a torn bicep on set in June 2026 that required surgery, a setback that significantly delayed production. Variety reported earlier this month that Bautista was in talks for the role, and Sony Entertainment and Amazon MGM Studios subsequently decided to recast Kratos.

Variety also confirmed that Bautista, a former WWE Superstar who has appeared in films including Dune and the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, has now signed on to portray Kratos. Reports that Bautista was in discussions emerged shortly after Hurst’s injury; those discussions have moved to a completed casting.

Principal photography on the series began in Vancouver in February, and several scenes featuring Hurst had already been filmed before the injury. Production sources said shooting is scheduled to resume in the next couple of weeks, with Bautista stepping into the parts that were previously filmed with Hurst.

Amazon Prime Video has ordered two seasons of the God of War series, with both seasons expected to be filmed back-to-back. The adaptation will not cover the Greek saga and will instead follow the narratives of God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök, tracking Kratos and his son Atreus as they travel across the Norse realms to fulfill the final wish of Kratos’ wife, Faye.

The cast announced for the series includes Callum Vinson as Atreus, Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Max Parker as Heimdall, Alastair Duncan as Mimir, Danny Woodburn and Jeff Gulka as Brok and Sindri, and Ed Skrein as Baldur. Those casting confirmations stand alongside the newly announced lead.

Writer and showrunner Ronald D. Moore, who also directed the first two episodes, will direct the rest of the series while Frederick E.O. Toye will direct the second two. Shooting will resume in the next couple of weeks with Bautista replacing Hurst in previously filmed scenes.