Dave Batista got the role of Kratos in the TV series "God of War"

American actor Dave Batista will play Kratos in the series "God of War" from Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Television. He will replace Ryan Hurst, who left the project due to an injury sustained on the set. This was reported by Variety on August 20.

Dave Batista has become the new Kratos

According to the publication, Batista has completed negotiations with studios and signed an agreement to participate in the film adaptation of the PlayStation video game series of the same name. Information about his possible joining the project appeared in early August, but at that time the parties were still discussing the terms of the deal.

Now the 57-year-old actor is officially listed in the cast of the series on the Amazon MGM Studios website. Batista is best known for his role as Drax the Destroyer in the films of the Marvel cinematic universe. He also starred in the films "Dune", "Dune: Part Two", "Blade Runner 2049", "Knives Out: Glass Onion" and "Knock on the Door".

Before starting his acting career, Batista performed in wrestling under the name Batista. He became the world champion six times and won the Royal Rumble match twice. Athletic training and experience in large—scale fantasy projects allow the actor to meet the physical requirements of the role of Kratos, a Spartan warrior turned god.

Why did Ryan Hurst leave the series

Initially, the role of Kratos was given to Ryan Hurst, known for the TV series "Sons of Anarchy" and "The Walking Dead". His participation was confirmed in January 2026. Before filming, the actor gained about 18 kg of muscle mass and spent several months preparing for a physically challenging role.

In late June, Hurst injured his bicep while performing a stunt. He needed surgery, after which he had to undergo long-term rehabilitation. Since the restoration dates did not match the production schedule, Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Television decided to replace the lead actor.

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Before the injury, the film crew had time to prepare material for about four episodes. After Batista's approval, a significant part of the already filmed scenes with Kratos will have to be reshot. Preparations for the resumption of production should begin soon, and the team is expected to return to the Vancouver site in the fall. The exact date has not yet been officially revealed.

It is noteworthy that Hearst has already been associated with the game franchise. He voiced Thor and participated in capturing the character's movements for "God of War Ragnarok". This work earned the actor a BAFTA Award nomination.

What will the "God of War" series be about?

The series is based on the events of the last two major games of the franchise — "God of War" in 2018 and "God of War Ragnarok". Unlike the earlier installments, which were built around Kratos' conflicts with the gods of Ancient Greece, the new story takes place in the world of Scandinavian mythology.

Kratos lives far from his former enemies with his son Atreus. After the death of his wife, Faye, father and son embark on a journey to fulfill her last request and scatter the ashes from the highest peak of the nine worlds. As events unfold, Kratos tries to teach Atreus to be a worthy god, while the son helps the harsh and withdrawn father to preserve humanity.

As Amazon reported, it is the relationship between Kratos and Atreus that will become the emotional basis of the film adaptation. The project received an order for two seasons at once, which were planned to be shot sequentially.

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The role of Atreus will be played by Callum Vinson. The cast also includes Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Olafur Darri Olafsson as Thor, Ed Skrein as Balder, Max Parker as Heimdall, and Teresa Palmer as Sif. Alastair Duncan will once again play Mimir, whom he voiced in video games.

Ronald D. Moore, who worked on the series Battlestar Galactica and Outlander, has been appointed showrunner, screenwriter and executive producer. The first two episodes will be directed by Frederick E.O. Toy, whose filmography includes "Shogun", "Boys" and "Fallout". The production is handled by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios in conjunction with PlayStation Productions and Tall Ship Productions.

How the "God of War" series of games appeared

The first part of "God of War" was released on PlayStation 2 in 2005. Its main character was the Spartan warrior Kratos, who sought revenge on the Olympian gods for the death of his family. The early games in the series featured large-scale battles, brutality, and a free reinterpretation of ancient Greek mythology.

In 2018, the developers from Santa Monica Studio relaunched the hero's story. As an adult, Kratos found himself in the world of the Scandinavian gods and was forced not only to fight with mythological creatures, but also to raise his son. The gameplay, visual style and nature of the narrative have also changed: the family drama has become no less an important part of the story than the confrontation with the gods.

The update proved to be a commercial success. By August 2021, sales of the 2018 "God of War" game on PlayStation 4 exceeded 19.5 million copies. The sequel "God of War Ragnarok", released in 2022, has sold over 15 million copies by November 2023.

The premiere date of the series "God of War" has not yet been announced. The replacement of the main actor and the need to reshoot the finished material may affect the production schedule, but Amazon has not officially announced the postponement of the release of the project.