Ex-Wrestler Dave Bautista in Talks to Take Over from Ryan Hurst as Kratos in God of War TV Show

Getting a bad feeling about the TV series overall. But Bautista might pull it off.

Not gonna lie that would be a massive upgrade. Dave is just a far better actor.

Actually he looks more the part and he's a very good actor. When looking at Ryan Hurst I could only see the bald cap, that cap won't be needed this time 🙂

My uncle Paul would be good. Absolute unit

Bautista said he didn’t want to play Drax anymore b/c he didn’t want to be naked and painted, which is what playing Kratos would entail.

I think slimmed down and old as he is makes him a good fit for the role, but everyone will be complaining he isn’t big enough, b/c they’ll be thinking of PS3 Kratos and not old man Kratos.

He also seems like he wants to do more “comedic” type roles these days, at least the last few I’ve seen him in, and Kratos may be old, thin and gray, but he basically has no sense of humor. I mean sure him just saying “Boy” all the time is funny but I don’t think it’s supposed to be.

Wait, just recalled him in “See”. Yeah ok, I’m in. Though that was few years back his character was a bit Kratos hardcore.

https://youtube.com/shorts/otWTw4Z52FI?si=wQwvpVdSbPZ2c-uJ

Ehh… I don’t like this possibility.

Yeah, I think he can pull it off. Probably a more exciting casting choice than his predecessor (with all due respect to his injury, I hope he recovers quickly).

I still think this series is going in the wrong direction by starting with the Norse games, but Bautista is a good choice to play Norse Kratos.

@rjejr was just gonna say the same. I guess when he meets Brok, they can stick him in armour so he isn't as shirtless and he looks a bit bulkier.

Big Dave has the range, he has the size. I’d be far more interested in this show if this casting comes off.

I thought one of the reasons (there were a few) he was happy to be done portraying Drax was because of the physical requirements needed to go shirtless.

Edit:
@rjejr

Please for the love of god no....

Actually really like Dave Bautista. I’d be cool with this

That show will be a disaster.
His acting is very poor.

I seem to be in the minority here but I don’t feel like he’s that great of an actor. This is pretty disappointing to me.

He'll do great , if anything this might work out better , they should hold off on Thor and wait for Ryan Hurst to heal up and have him play thor ( hes the voice of thor anyways).

He has a knack for Drax, but beyond that, I don't think he's very good. His best attribute was always his physique, and father time has claimed that from him.

Is it really better for them to recast the role and reshoot everything rather than wait for Ryan Hurst to rehab? Seems wasteful.

Better than BRAUN STROWMAN as was rumored a couple weeks ago

PLEASE MAKE THIS HAPPEN! Really had no interest in a GOW show but if Batista is Kratos I will watch every episode!

I like Bautista, but I don’t think he’s a good fit. Almost wish they’d go with an unknown as there currently aren’t very many (or any) big, tall, bodybuilder type actors who can actually act. Maybe they could do some forced perspective stuff like in Dark Knight Rises and get away with using a good actor who isn’t actually all that big.

Bautista and Christopher Judge are nearly the same age… why not just have Tealc play Kratos again?

Dave is a good actor but this show is full of red flags now.

Will he be able to get in shape for it? I thought he didn't want roles like this anymore.

Very mixed, on one hand I don’t dislike him as an actor, on the other, “wrestlers-turned-actors” is the one Hollywood experiment that needs to go away for good. (Speaking as a wrestling fan, mind you)

Also really cool choice with the red theme on gow articles, I only notice it now xD

I like Bautista. I’m not quite sure he’s the one for this role, though. But somehow at the same time i also feel like he might do an amazing version of Kratos

Isn't he tied into playing Marcus Fenix in Netflix's gears of war adaptation? 🤣

I assume that is going as well as the MGS movie.

They need to make a bolder choice. Chris Pratt as Kratos, with Tom Holland as Atreus, Anya Taylor joy as Freya and Pedro Pascal as Mimir. This way everyone is miscast with actors people are tired to see everywhere.

This is the perfect time for a GIVE ME WHAT I WANT gif

I never like Gunn's take on superheroes, he makes everything a not just a joke but a bad one. Drax is one of the caharecters that Gunn turned them to literate joke versions of the comic character but the actor did well with what he was given.

It could a good choice for this older version of Kratos.

@Oram77 Why? He's a really good actor with a ton of range.

Much better choice. He's older, which fits perfectly and he's in great shape. I really like Dave as an actor, too

I am here for it. They need something like this to happen to rescue this production I think. Ryan would have been phenomenal and I was gutted to hear they wouldn’t give him the time to heal up. Bautista would be the best way to salvage something like that.

He’s a decent actor. But I still look at this project and just see absolutely zero reason for it to exist. The games are there. You can play the games. It’s the same as The Last of Us, you take an already cinematic game and remove the gameplay so that you’re left with a story that is good for video game standard but is ten a penny in Hollywood.

He’s actually spoken a lot about losing weight, getting more athletic rather than visibly “strong” and feeling far better for it. He’s been really rather public about how he feels so much more healthier.

So whilst I think “why not have him give it a shot”. I’m not sure he would want to do it if it meant him bulking up again to then contractually have to potentially bulk up or remain bulked for say season 2 or 3 etc.

Granted, a lot can be done in post, but at that point you might as well hire talent that’s already there physically for the most part.

Either way, it’s a TV show based on a video game, that’s based loosely on a game developers interpretation of myths, created by a company that specialises in wholesale selling and shipping.

So I’m not going to take this project too seriously until I’m shown footage.

This series is probably dead in the water. Like 10 years ago he could look the part. But there’s a reason no one pits him in real movies.

@DennisReynolds yeah but that’s like saying anyone with two legs is a better sprinter than someone with no legs…

I think what we have seen from his performance in blade runner and dune, dave makes a great choice for Norse Kratos

@For-Kier Dune & Blade Runner aren't real movies?

Oh God (of...), is it supposed to be a parody or comedy?

He looks too old and a lot smaller than I remember.

Where are the young (late 30’s early 40’s) actors? Shouldn’t they be allowed their opportunity to make some money?

Don't mind it but I think he's a bit too old at this point.

he needs to put on some weight back on

He's a brilliant actor, so if the series is in a bit of trouble, he could save it. I'm shocked the producers can get him, he must be asking for a lot.

He probably doesn't have the perfect look at this age. Normally I judging actors on how closely they look like the character they're adapting is a game for mugs, but the visual is a big part of Kratos' impact. I still think Batista would pull it off, and he'd nail the fatherhood stuff

I'm looking at the comments and... sorry but are we really at the state in Hollywood when Dave Bautista is considered a good (I've even seen "great", "brilliant" being used) actor and not a C-tier action/horror/comedy flicks one? When did the bar get lowered that much?

Really surprised to see Bautista praised as a good actor here. Also, isn’t he thinner as a slice of bread now? No way I could accept that as Kratos lol. Bautistas head is also way too round. This would be a really bad choice.

Noooooo... 🤦🏻‍♂️ Please no.

How about Mark Strong? Looks more like Kratos and is a way better actor. Has the voice too.

Apologies for AI but don't tell be he wouldn't be a great fit.

It very much depends when the show is set. Bautista is older and fits the latest games better, but not sure he has the gravitas to carry Kratos. Not sure who does to be honest. Also, unless they overdub, who has that iconic voice?

If this is true this might be way better than first actor.. crazy to think they didn't choose Bautista first

I'm afraid I don't see it :/

His acting is so “good”, Ben Afflec looks like a virtuoso next to him

Feel bad for Hurst. Thought he did well as mentor in The Odyssey and loved him in Sons of Anarchy.

Batista came after my WWE days were well over, so never had much of an opinion of him. Saw him as Drax and thought he was pretty funny but it was a bit of a simplistic role. Then I saw him in Blade Runner 2049 and thought he played his small role extremely well, very dramatic. I wasn't excited about Hurst's casting (although it sucks as this is a huge role!), however Batista I have faith will do it really well. He's got the drama, the attitude, and the track record.

Yh, i mean he was always my first choice, he has the chops and the build, plus is half greek. He'll just need to get back on juice to look the part unfortunetly.

@splinters they've confirmed its a straigght adaptation of the 2018 reboot.

Years of muscle enhancing substances and carrying around muscle that's beyond nature has exhausted Batista's heart - at his age there is absolutely no way he can put the bulk back on. We either get a slender Kratos or a different actor. Although I'd love for him to do it.

Good solid choice, better then the last dude , he's actually half greek and Filipino also

Better actor, better ethnic fit

I am not convinced but I am willing to wait for the trailers to see how he fits into the roll. My main concern is that he is too one-note. That won't work well for an adapted Kratos, who I assume will have more dialogue than in the games.

He's a bit old an weathered looking now isn't he!

He's a crap actor but if he wasn't where he was. Triple H would be perfect for it with that beard of his 😂

As for this. I think it's an ok choice but he's lost a lot of weight he's gonna have to do what Christian Bale did after the machinist before he did dark knight and buff up a bit for it.

@3Above

I agree. He was a badass as Edo Vass in SEE.
I could see him brining some of that character into Kratos.

I'll just see that humbling idiot character from GoG. Deifinite nope. Like asking Liam to be Geralt.

I approve, now please change Atrius too.

I think this could work, as long as he can divorce it from Drax (who he apparently disliked playing).

I'd like to see him flex his angry acting chops, he definitely has the look and build, and he's obviously going to be used to the physical aspect.

Hurst is the better actor. Bautista isn’t a good actor at all. Guess I won’t watch it now.

Dude picked the wrong time to get off gear and get really small

That's actually a MUCH better choice.
And I have seen him in more serious roles, so I know he can do dramatic characters.

From reading the comments, they really need to watch him, outside of the comic book stuff.
He's more than a bumbling comic relief character.

Nope. Not the guy. If this was 2002, maybe.

Nah. Dude is only decent in certain roles. Just can't act. And i think we should not everywhere folks who used steroids to get their physique. But that's just me.

Just get Big Show at this point.

Dave Bautista has lost a tonne of weight that he almost looked unwell. So if he gets the part what will happen; will he train to bulk up or will CGI be used for his build?

Personally, I can’t see it. Good actor but doesn’t scream “Kratos” to me. Admittedly, I already need a lot of convincing for this show, though.

If Dave gets the job will he be wearing his pearls?