Ryan Hurst has shared another look as casting Kratos, which he was primed to play in Prime Video’s God of War series. The actor shared a shirtless mirror selfie on his Instagram story showing the physical transformation he made for the iconic role.
Hurst looks strikingly similar to Kratos in the new image. He’s got the character’s signature bald head and thick beard, muscular physique, and tattoos. The image quickly became viral on social media, showing fans how much work he put into becoming the legendary PlayStation character.
However, an on-set injury made it impossible for him to continue the Prime Video series. He tore his bicep while doing a stunt in late June and later underwent surgery. That made Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures recast the role after Hurst’s run as Kratos.
The Walking Dead actor filmed four episodes before the injury. He also gained around 40 pounds for the physically demanding role. As per reports, the studio will reshoot the series entirely with a new Kratos actor.
Prime Video had to recast Kratos after Hurst’s injury
Hurst’s departure has become a major setback for the God of War adaptation. After his injury, the studios paused the production immediately. His recovery from surgery would take longer than the show’s schedule allowed, so the studios decided to recast the role.
The God of War series received a two-season order with production and filming underway in March 2026. The studios planned to film the two seasons back-to-back from February 2026 to April 2027. Hurst’s injury put that tight schedule under pressure.
The role of Kratos also requires physically demanding stunts and intense action sequences. Hurst would not be ready for that kind of work after surgery. The studio now aims to restart the production in mid-October by reshooting the entire footage with a new actor.
Reports now suggest that Dune star Dave Bautista could take over the role. The former professional wrestler is now in talks with the studios, although Prime Video has yet to make an official announcement.
