Bautista hits 250 pounds for God of War shoot
The actor gained 20 pounds of muscle to replace Ryan Hurst in Prime Video's adaptation of the video game series.
By Connor Murphy ·
Dave Bautista weighs 250 pounds, having added 20 pounds of muscle for his upcoming role as Kratos in the Prime Video series 'God of War.' The actor posted a video to his Instagram story on November 2, 2026, featuring the text 'Gained 20 lbs for GOW' alongside a sticker displaying the number 250. In the post, Bautista wears a shirt branded with the series title.
Bautista signed on to the project in August 2026, stepping in for Ryan Hurst. Hurst was originally cast as the Spartan warrior but tore his bicep on set. The injury required surgery that would have pushed production into 2027, prompting the studio to recast the lead. Filming for the show began in Vancouver in February 2026.
The production must now reshoot every scene that featured Hurst, replacing him with Bautista. The series adapts the two most recent 'God of War' video games. The plot follows Kratos and his ten-year-old son, Atreus, who is played by Callum Vinson. The father and son travel to spread the ashes of Faye, Atreus's mother.
The narrative focuses on their conflicting lessons; Kratos attempts to teach his son to be a better god, while Atreus works to make his father a better human. They battle deities from the Norse pantheon throughout the story. Prime Video ordered two seasons of the show, which will be filmed back-to-back.
Bautista previously teased his physical transformation in September 2026. He told fans at the time that he had resumed weight training but still had time to reach his target physique. The actor has appeared in films such as 'My Spy' and 'Knock at the Cabin.' He will next appear in 'Road House 2' and a reboot of 'Highlander.'
