Months after Prime Video released the first look at the upcoming TV adaptation of the video game God Of War, the lead role of Kratos will be recast after actor Ryan Hurst was injured on set.
Four episodes of the high-stakes series had already been shot when Ryan was injured on the Vancouver set in June, tearing his bicep while filming a stunt.
Production was paused as the injury required surgery, but the four-to-six months of recovery time were reportedly longer than expected, forcing Prime to make the changes.
© Justin Lubin/PrimeA first-look image of the 50-year-old actor in the role of Kratos was released in February, also showcasing Callum Vinson as Kratos’s young son, Atreus.
However, as Callum – who was born in 2014 – is a growing child actor, the ticking clock likely factored heavily into Amazon's difficult choice to recast rather than wait out the lengthy recovery.
© Leah Gallo/PrimeProduction is reportedly hoping to begin again in the fall. Prime Video has not shared any further details about Ryan's injuries or current status.
TMZ and Deadline were the first to report the news. HELLO! has contacted Prime Video and reps for Ryan for comment.
© Getty ImagesGod Of War is an action-adventure video game series that follows Kratos, a Spartan warrior who comes into conflict with various mythological pantheons.
The official description of the character reads: "Kratos is Spartan by birth, and a god by nature. Raised in a martial culture, he rose to command armies in the service of his homeland until one day he made a fateful deal with Ares, the Greek God of War, and lost his soul in exchange for being victorious in battle."
Ryan has been involved with the God Of War franchise for some time, having previously voiced the Norse god Thor in the video game, God Of War: Ragnarok. He underwent a huge physical transformation after getting the role, putting on 40 lbs of muscle.
He has also appeared as Opie in the hit biker drama Sons of Anarchy, the villain Beta in The Walking Dead, as well as the movies Remember the Titans, Saving Private Ryan, and Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey.
The adaptation will begin with the two most recent God Of War games, in which Kratos must protect his son while fighting Gods of the Norse pantheon.
"Father and son Kratos and Atreus embark on a journey to spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye. Through their adventures, Kratos tries to teach his son to be a better god, while Atreus tries to teach his father how to be a better human," reads the logline.
The series has received a two-season order.
God of War is among many upcoming adaptations Prime Video is working on, including Carrie, a retelling of Stephen King's classic novel; Boys of Tommen, based on Chloe Walsh's best-selling YA series; Campus Drivers, C.S. Quill's popular college romance novels, and the movie The Love Hypothesis, based on Ali Hazelwood's TikTok-famous romance novel.
Prime Video has established itself as the streamer for adaptations, most recently finding success with Off Campus, Every Year After, Reacher, The Rings of Power, Maxton Hall, and Cross, all based on books.
