CAST IN STONE

Dave Bautista Replaces Injured Lead Actor in New Series

The “Guardians of the Galaxy” star is stepping in to bring an iconic video game character to the small screen.

Dave Bautista is officially taking over as the titular role in God of War after the new series’ original lead actor suffered an on-set injury. Bautista, 57, was confirmed to be playing the role of Kratos in the upcoming Amazon Prime Video series based on the popular video game franchise, according to Variety. The series had previously announced in January that actor Ryan Hurst was cast in the lead role. However, Hurst suffered a torn bicep that required surgery during filming, which would have delayed production into 2027. Amazon and Sony, which are co-producing the series, announced shortly afterward that they were recasting Kratos. Bautista, a retired pro wrestler, is an ideal pick for the role, as the character in the games boasts an impressively muscular build. The series will focus on the story told in the two latest games of the God of War franchise. It will follow Kratos as he cares for his 10-year-old son Atreus (played by Callum Vinson) while they defend themselves against Norse gods such as Odin and Baldur.