Actor Dave Bautista has added 20 pounds of muscle, bringing his weight to 250 pounds, as he prepares to take on the role of Kratos in Prime Video's upcoming God of War series. Filming is set to resume soon for the adaptation.
Bautista, 55, had previously indicated a need for two months to prepare for the part. While his current 250-pound physique is substantial, it is not the heaviest he has achieved during his career. During his time in WWE as Batista, he reportedly began at 325 pounds and once reached 370 pounds, typically maintaining around 290 pounds throughout his wrestling tenure. For the 2023 film Knock at the Cabin, Bautista bulked up to 315 pounds.
Bautista is stepping in to replace actor Ryan Hurst, who was originally cast as Kratos. Hurst had to leave the role due to a bicep tear injury, which would have required extensive downtime for rehabilitation. Amazon opted not to wait for his recovery and quickly sought a replacement. Two seasons of the God of War series have been ordered.
The series will draw inspiration from the 2018 soft reboot of the game franchise, following Kratos and his son Atreus (played by Callum Vinson) on their journey through the nine realms. The franchise also has new game installments planned, with God of War Laufey scheduled for February 18, 2027, and another Kratos-centric adventure in development.