Because of his biceps: God of War series changes lead actor after four episodes
There is bad news for God of War fans. The live-action series adaptation, currently in production for Prime Video, has suffered a major setback. According to Deadline, citing unnamed sources, Ryan Hurst will no longer play Kratos. The reason is reportedly an accident that occurred while performing a stunt on set in late June. Hurst is said to have torn his bicep and required surgery. The actor is now recovering, but rehabilitation from such an injury can take more than six months.
Hurst would reportedly not have been able to resume filming until sometime in 2027 – apparently too long a delay for Amazon. Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios are therefore said to have decided, after careful consideration, to recast the role. The decision is particularly unfortunate given that four episodes had already been completed. Those episodes will now have to be reshot. According to Deadline, filming is scheduled to resume in mid-October. It is not yet known who will replace Hurst as Kratos, and no official shortlist of candidates has been announced.
Among God of War fans on Reddit, sympathy and disappointment are the dominant reactions. Many had been looking forward to seeing Hurst as Kratos and are now primarily wishing him a full recovery. While some criticize the recasting as premature or overly harsh, a large part of the community considers the decision understandable – not least because the actor playing the young Atreus could visibly age during an extended production delay. Suggested replacements include Kratos voice actor Christopher Judge and former wrestler Dave Bautista.
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