Amazon's live-action God of War television series has encountered a significant production hurdle following a serious on-set injury to actor Ryan Hurst, who was cast as Kratos earlier this year. According to a report from Deadline, Hurst sustained a torn bicep while performing a stunt. Following surgery, the decision has been made to recast the role rather than await his recovery.
The typical recovery period for a bicep tear can range from four to six months. Given that production schedules are unable to accommodate a delay extending into 2027, the studio opted to replace Hurst. Preparations for the new actor are reportedly set to begin in August, with production aiming for a mid-October start.
Hurst had reportedly trained extensively for the part, gaining approximately 40 pounds of muscle to better embody the character. Four episodes of the series had already been filmed before Hurst's injury, and these will now need to be reshot with the new actor. The series began filming only a few months ago and was reportedly deep into its production schedule when the incident occurred.
This setback is not the first time an Amazon series production has been impacted by an actor's injury; the Tomb Raider adaptation faced delays when lead actor Sophie Turner injured her back. In that instance, production waited for her recovery, highlighting the inherent risks involved when actors perform their own stunts. The release date for the God of War series remains unannounced, but this unforeseen event is expected to cause a significant delay.