Fans of the God of War franchise have expressed strong approval for a recent photograph of Ryan Hurst in costume as Kratos, shared via his Instagram Stories. This new image has been favorably compared to the initial promotional photo released by Prime Video, which faced considerable backlash.
The streaming service recently announced it would recast the role of Kratos after Hurst sustained a bicep injury requiring surgery, an announcement that followed the widely mocked first look at the character. The initial image drew criticism for its apparent CGI background, artificial-looking props, and Kratos's awkward pose, which was infamously described by God of War creator David Jaffe as resembling someone "s***ing in the woods."
Hurst himself had previously responded cryptically to the criticism, suggesting fans should "not believe everything they see on the internet," leading some to speculate that Kratos's design was still in development. However, the actor's recent topless picture, posted with a caption tagging Johnny Cash's "The Man Comes Around," has reignited discussions among fans.
Many fans on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) have deemed Hurst's new photo a significant improvement over Prime Video's official release. Comments suggest that Prime Video may have acted prematurely in seeking a replacement, with some fans arguing that Hurst is the ideal actor for the role. "Amazon made the biggest mistake by not waiting for him to heal or simply asking if he can still do it," one user wrote. Another fan commented, "There's no one that can be a better Kratos than Ryan Hurst."
While Prime Video cited production schedules and Hurst's injury as reasons for recasting, reports have surfaced that Dave Bautista is being considered as a leading contender for the role. The timing of Hurst sharing his photo, concurrent with these casting rumors, has led to speculation that the actor might be subtly conveying his commitment to the character. "He basically said 'this's what yall gonna be missing on,'" one fan interpreted.
Meanwhile, updates on the God of War game franchise indicate that new titles are also in development. God of War Laufey is scheduled for release in February, and a new Kratos-centric game is underway, alongside remakes of the original trilogy.