Kratos suffered a big injury while filming for Amazon MGM and Sony Pictures’ God of War show, with TMZ reporting that star Ryan Hurst tore his bicep, putting production on hold. Now, studios have been forced to recast the character.
Sources told TMZ that Hurst was filming a stunt for the series when the injury occurred on set in Vancouver. The tear is so reportedly severe that it will require surgery to fix, putting the actor out of commission well past producers’ optimistic mid-August timeline.
TMZ’s sources initially claimed that filming could get pushed back as far as 2027 depending on how long it took Hurst to recover.
Subsequent reports from Deadline confirmed that Kratos will now be recast, as Hurst’s recovery timeline would throw filming too far off schedule. This decision follows “careful consideration” from Amazon MGM and Sony Pictures.
Hurst reportedly stacked on 40 pounds to bring Kratos and his Spartan background to life. Deadline states that he has already undergone surgery and is now recovering from the procedure. Shooting is expected to resume in mid-October 2026, with prep to start in mid-August.
Thus far, there’s been no word on who is being eyed to take over the role in Hurst’s stead.
This isn’t the first time the God of War show has suffered major setbacks; in 2024, Rafe Judkins exited the project as showrunner, with Amazon MGM bringing on Ronald D. Moore, best known for his work on Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek Deep Space Nine, later that year.
The adaptation, which will stream on Prime Video, had no set release date. A first-look at Ryan Hurst as Kratos and Callum Vinson as Atreus was shared back in February, along with the news that Ed Skrien (Deadpool, Alita: Battle Angel) would take on the role of Baldur.
The star-studded cast features a slew of big names, including Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Max Parker as Heimdall, and Teresa Palmer as Sif, with Danny Woodburn and Jeff Gulka portraying Brok and Sindri.
Alastair Duncan, who provided the voice and mocap for Mimir in the games, is notably bringing his talents back to the role for the show as a member of the OG cast.
While Amazon MGM and Sony keep their eyes peeled for a new Kratos, fans can look forward to playing God of War Laufey, a spinoff title that follows the adventures of Kratos’ second wife as she navigates through the afterlife of the gods.
Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she’s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.
