Amazon’s God of War Series to Recast Kratos Following Ryan Hurst’s Unexpected Stunt Injury

Ryan Hurst, known for his roles in Sons of Anarchy and Remember the Titans, will no longer portray Kratos in the live-action adaptation of God of War. Reports indicate that Hurst sustained a significant injury while performing a stunt, leading to a recast to prevent further delays in Amazon’s adaptation of the beloved PlayStation franchise. This development follows a wave of online mockery stemming from an early image of Hurst on set that became a viral meme.

According to reports, Hurst suffered a bicep tear during filming that required hospitalization for recovery. The injury could sideline him for up to six months, which would push the show’s timeline beyond what Amazon is willing to accept. Filming was projected to be on hold until 2027, prompting the decision to recast Hurst to keep production moving forward.

Hurst had reportedly bulked up by “40 lbs of muscle” for the physically demanding role and had already filmed scenes for more than four episodes. Unfortunately, all of that footage will need to be reshot with the new actor stepping into Kratos’ shoes.

Hurst faced criticism for being cast as Kratos, especially after Christopher Judge’s iconic portrayal in God of War (2018) and God of War: Ragnarök. Many felt Hurst lacked the gravitas needed for a character that would echo the significant storylines from the games. His full costume and makeup reveal in a set photo earlier this year only fueled the ridicule.

Sony has been aiming to replicate the success of HBO’s The Last of Us but has struggled to launch adaptations of its other major franchises, aside from Twisted Metal. The God of War series was first announced in 2022, underwent a reboot in 2024 with new showrunners and scripts, and was finally nearing production before this latest setback.