Dave Bautista says he has packed on 20 pounds for Prime Video’s “God of War” series, and he has a number to show for it: 250.
The actor shared the update Nov. 1 in an Instagram story, Variety reported. Wearing a “God of War” T-shirt, he posted the text “Gained 20 lbs for GOW” with a “250” sticker, which Variety took as his current weight and described as a gain in muscle.
It’s his second progress report. In early September, he told fans he was in his “3rd week into weight training again” with “2 more months to get to where I need to be,” according to TVLine. That two-month window has now run out.
Why Bautista Had To Bulk Up Again
Bulking up means reversing years of work. Bautista said in a 2024 interview with Chris Van Vliet that he had dropped to about 240 pounds from around 315 for “Knock at the Cabin,” and that he’d “probably lose a few more pounds,” AOL reported. A 20-pound gain to reach 250 suggests he started this run near 230, though he hasn’t given a starting weight.
How The Role Changed Hands
Prime Video didn’t originally plan on any of this. Ryan Hurst was cast as Kratos and tore his biceps doing a stunt in late June, about four months into the shoot, Deadline reported. The injury required surgery, and waiting for him would have delayed restarting production into 2027, according to Variety. Amazon and Sony, which is co-producing, recast the part, and Bautista signed on in August.
Hurst reportedly gained about 40 pounds for the role, TVLine noted. That’s the obvious comparison, and it’s an imperfect one, since the two actors started from different places. The production hasn’t announced a target weight for Bautista, so nobody outside it can say whether 250 is the finish line.
Starting Over In Vancouver
Filming first began in Vancouver in February, and all of Hurst’s scenes have to be reshot. Deadline reported that no footage from the original shoot will be used, while TVLine said four episodes had reportedly been filmed.
Deadline reported a mid-October restart target, and Hollywood North Buzz said production resumed in late October, with Frederick E.O. Toye back to direct the first two episodes.
What The Series Covers
The show, from showrunner Ronald D. Moore, draws on 2018’s “God of War” and its 2022 sequel, “God of War Ragnarok,” in which Kratos raises his 10-year-old son, Atreus, while fighting gods of the Norse pantheon. Callum Vinson remains in the role of Atreus.
Per the logline, the two “embark on a journey to spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye,” with Kratos trying to teach his son “to be a better god, while Atreus tries to teach his father how to be a better human.”
Prime Video ordered two seasons up front, and the plan is still to film them back-to-back. Before audiences see any of it, Bautista has “Road House 2” with Jake Gyllenhaal and the “Highlander” reboot, in which he plays the Kurgan, on his schedule. No premiere date has been announced for “God of War.”
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
