Amazon's upcoming God of War television series will recast the pivotal role of Kratos after actor Ryan Hurst sustained an on-set injury. According to Deadline, Hurst tore a bicep while performing a stunt, leading to production pausing and a decision to replace him.
Sources indicate that Hurst has undergone surgery and is currently recovering. This setback necessitates a significant reset for the show, as approximately four episodes featuring Hurst as Kratos have already been filmed and will need to be re-shot with a new actor. Production is slated to resume in mid-October.
Hurst had reportedly gained 40 pounds of muscle specifically for the physically demanding role of Kratos. The decision to recast, despite this preparation, is attributed to the demands of the character and the need to coordinate with the rapidly aging child actor who plays Atreus, Kratos's son, and appears alongside him in scenes.
Hurst is also known for his roles as Beta in AMC's The Walking Dead and as Mentor in Christopher Nolan's film adaptation of The Odyssey. The identity of his replacement as Kratos has not yet been revealed, but casting is expected to be finalized soon given the planned restart of production.