Dave Bautista in Talks to Join God of War TV Series as Kratos

Dave Bautista is reportedly in talks to join the live-action God of War TV series as the protagonist Kratos, according to Variety and Deadline. The news follows the recent injury and subsequent recasting of actor Ryan Hurst, who will be unable to reprise his role until next year due to surgery. Bautista, known for his physical stature and previous work in the Guardians of the Galaxy films and as a professional wrestler in WWE, is seen as a strong fit for the role due to his natural bulk and wrestling background.

However, Bautista is 57 and would turn 58 during filming, raising concerns about potential injuries across multiple seasons. If Bautista signs on, the show is expected to resume production by the fall. In addition, there are rumors of Atreus actor Callum Vinson being recast for the second season, allowing the series to film more quickly due to a three-year time jump between games.

Multiple new God of War games are also in development, including God of War Laufey slated for February release and a new Kratos-led entry.