Filipino-American actor Dave Bautista has officially been cast as Kratos in Amazon Prime Video’s upcoming live-action God of War series, replacing Ryan Hurst, who had to leave the project after suffering an on-set injury.

Bautista, who was born in Washington, D.C., to a Filipino father and a mother of Greek descent, has long spoken proudly about his Filipino heritage. His connection to his roots is also reflected in his tattoos, which include the Philippine and Greek flags, as well as the three stars and sun from the Philippine flag.

“I was always really just taught to be proud of my heritage,” Bautista previously said in a GQ interview, emphasizing his pride in his Filipino roots and how he has chosen to express that heritage through his tattoos.

His connection to the Philippines was further strengthened during a 2006 WWE visit to the country, when he experienced the warm reception of Filipino fans. The trip helped deepen his appreciation for his Filipino roots.

Now, Bautista is set to take on one of his biggest roles yet as Kratos, the central character of the God of War franchise and a formidable warrior known for his muscular physique and battles against gods and mythological creatures.

Bautista replaces Hurst, who was originally announced as Kratos in January 2026. Hurst suffered a torn bicep while filming that required surgery, with the injury expected to delay production significantly. Amazon and Sony subsequently decided to recast the role.

Bautista had earlier been reported to be in talks for the part and has now officially been confirmed as Hurst’s replacement. Production is expected to resume in the coming weeks, and all scenes previously filmed with Hurst as Kratos will be reshot with Bautista.

The God of War series has received a two-season order from Prime Video, with the seasons scheduled to film back-to-back.

The series will follow Kratos and his 10-year-old son, Atreus, as they embark on a journey to spread the ashes of Faye, Kratos’ late wife and Atreus’ mother. Their journey will bring them into conflict with gods and other figures from Norse mythology.

Callum Vinson remains attached as Atreus, while Max Parker, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Mandy Patinkin and Ed Skrein are set to portray Heimdall, Thor, Odin and Baldur, respectively.

Bautista’s casting places the Filipino-American star at the center of one of Prime Video’s major video game adaptations, while marking a significant change in the production following Hurst’s departure.