MANILA, Philippines — Filipino-American actor Dave Bautista is stepping into the role of Kratos in Prime Video’s upcoming “God of War” series, replacing Ryan Hurst after the original lead suffered a serious injury during production.
Bautista has officially closed a deal to headline the live-action adaptation of the popular PlayStation video game franchise, according to Variety and Deadline. Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Television decided to recast the role after Hurst tore his bicep while performing a stunt in June, an injury that required surgery and would have significantly delayed production.
The change comes several months after Hurst was announced as Kratos in January and began filming the series in Vancouver. With Bautista taking over, scenes previously shot with Hurst will be reshot, while the production is expected to resume in the coming weeks.
The series has received a two-season order, with both seasons scheduled to film back-to-back. Preparation for the new production is set to begin this month, with filming targeted to restart in Vancouver by mid-October.
Before becoming a familiar face on the big screen, Bautista rose to prominence in WWE under the ring name Batista. He eventually transitioned into acting, landing his breakthrough role as Drax the Destroyer in Marvel's “Guardians of the Galaxy” in 2014.
He reprised the role in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” while also building a résumé beyond the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Among his notable post-wrestling projects are the James Bond film “Spectre,” Denis Villeneuve's “Blade Runner 2049” and “Dune,” as well as “Dune: Part Two.” He also starred in Zack Snyder's “Army of the Dead” and appeared in “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” and M. Night Shyamalan's “Knock at the Cabin.”
In “God of War,” Bautista will portray Kratos, a former Greek god who has begun a new life in the Norse realm with his son, Atreus, played by Callum Vinson.
The story follows father and son as they travel to fulfill the final wish of Kratos' late wife and Atreus' mother, Faye, by spreading her ashes from the highest peak. Their journey forces Kratos to confront his violent past while trying to teach his son how to become a better god. In turn, Atreus helps his father rediscover his humanity.
The cast includes Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Ed Skrein as Baldur, Max Parker as Heimdall, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, and Teresa Palmer as Sif. Alastair Duncan plays Mimir, while Sonya Walger portrays Freya.
