Dave Bautista in Talks to Replace Ryan Hurst as Kratos in God of War

Amazon’s live-action God of War has four completed episodes, a two-season order, and a Vancouver production aiming to get moving again — but its lead role is still unresolved.

Dave Bautista is in talks to take over as Kratos. Deadline reported on August 3 that the former WWE star had entered negotiations to replace Ryan Hurst, and Variety also reported the talks that day. Amazon declined to comment to Variety.

Nearly two weeks later, no reliable report has elevated those talks into a completed deal. Bautista has not been officially cast. No studio announcement has confirmed him as Kratos, so for now this remains a reported negotiation rather than a hire.

Why the role is open

Ryan Hurst was announced as Kratos in January 2026, and production began in Vancouver in late February.

In late June, Hurst tore a bicep while performing a stunt. The injury required surgery, and production paused while he recovered.

Deadline reported in July that the role would be recast. The reporting tied that decision to Hurst’s recovery timeline and the demands of the production schedule, rather than any disciplinary issue.

Prime Video has given God of War a two-season order, and Deadline reported that the plan to shoot both seasons back-to-back remained in place. Waiting for Hurst’s recovery would have pushed the production schedule significantly further back.

Why Bautista

Deadline reported that prep was expected to resume in mid-August, with production targeting a mid-October restart in Vancouver.

That gives the production a narrow window to secure a new lead for one of its most physically demanding roles, and Bautista has an obvious action-heavy résumé. He played Drax across the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Glossu Rabban in Dune and Dune: Part Two, and has shown a quieter dramatic side in films including Blade Runner 2049 and Knock at the Cabin.

There is also already an Amazon MGM connection. Bautista stars in Prime Video’s The Wrecking Crew and is part of Amazon MGM Studios’ upcoming Highlander reboot.

None of that means the Kratos deal is done. It only explains why the reported talks make sense.

What happens to the four episodes

They are expected to be reshot with the new Kratos.

Deadline reported that four episodes had been fully completed before Hurst’s injury and that those episodes would be reshot with the actor who takes over the role. Neither Amazon MGM Studios nor Sony Pictures Television has publicly disclosed what the additional production will cost.

The rest of the show

The previously announced ensemble includes:

• Callum Vinson as Atreus
• Mandy Patinkin as Odin
• Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor
• Ed Skrein as Baldur
• Max Parker as Heimdall
• Teresa Palmer as Sif
• Sonya Walger as Freya
• Alastair Duncan as Mimir
• Danny Woodburn as Brok
• Jeff Gulka as Sindri

Ronald D. Moore serves as showrunner, executive producer and writer. The series is co-produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios in association with PlayStation Productions and Tall Ship Productions.

Amazon says the adaptation will closely follow the two most recent God of War games. Its official premise centers on Kratos and his young son Atreus travelling together to spread the ashes of Faye, Kratos’ wife and Atreus’ mother, while their difficult father-son relationship develops.

What we don’t know

There is no official release date. Prime Video has not announced a premiere date or release window.

Christopher Judge has not been reported by the major trades as a current candidate for the live-action role. Judge, who performed Kratos in God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök, clarified in August that his criticism of the adaptation was about the treatment of the games’ original writers and developers, not about wanting the role for himself. He also said he did not want to take on the physical demands of live-action Kratos.

And Bautista still isn’t officially cast. Until Amazon, Sony or reliable trade reporting confirms a completed deal, he remains an actor in negotiations for the role.

The bottom line

God of War lost its lead after four episodes had already been completed and is now trying to restart production with a replacement Kratos.

Bautista makes obvious sense as a candidate. He also has not been officially announced. Those are both true, and the second point matters until the negotiations turn into a deal.