Dave Bautista has offered a glimpse into his physical preparation for the role of Kratos in Amazon's upcoming God of War television series. The actor, known for his roles in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy and as a former professional wrestler, posted an update on Instagram detailing his progress.
Bautista shared a video clip with the caption, "3rd week in to weight training again. 2 more months to get to where I need to be. Like ridin a bike! LFG!" This suggests that principal photography for the series is slated to resume in approximately two months, likely in late October or early November. This revised timeline follows an earlier injury sustained by Ryan Hurst, who was originally cast as Kratos.
Following his transformation for M. Night Shyamalan's film Knock at the Cabin, where he played Leonard, Bautista had reportedly shed the significant weight he gained. His current training indicates a pivot back towards a more muscular build, mirroring the dedication previously shown by Hurst for the role. The adaptation is expected to draw from the narratives of the 2018 game God of War and its 2022 sequel, God of War Ragnarok, chronicling the journey of the father and son duo, Kratos and Atreus.
The God of War series is set to feature Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Teresa Palmer as Sif, and Callum Vinson as Atreus, among other cast members. This project marks another major video game adaptation for Prime Video, which is also developing a live-action Tomb Raider series starring Sophie Turner.