Dave Bautista has shared a video documenting his intense physical preparation for the role of Kratos in the upcoming God of War television series. The actor, who was officially cast last month, is undertaking a rigorous weight training program to embody the iconic character.
Bautista's preparation comes under a tight deadline. The God of War series began filming earlier this year with actor Ryan Hurst in the role of Kratos. However, Hurst sustained an injury that will sideline him until next year, prompting Amazon to recast the part. Bautista now has only a few months to achieve the necessary physique as production is slated to resume in October.
This rapid transformation is particularly notable given Bautista's recent weight loss after years of action roles and professional wrestling. While his casting was initially met with some debate due to his leaner frame, the actor appears committed to demonstrating his suitability for the character. He indicated in the shared video that he has been training for three weeks and has two months remaining to reach his target condition.
Interestingly, Christopher Judge, the voice actor for Kratos in the recent God of War games, revealed that he had auditioned for the live-action role. Judge ultimately withdrew his candidacy, citing his unwillingness to commit to the demanding schedule, strict diet, and intense workout regimen required at his age of 62.