Dave Bautista shows off Kratos physique and beard for ‘God of War’ in video
Dave Bautista shows off Kratos physique.
Dave Bautista is getting closer to looking like Kratos. The actor has revealed a noticeable physical transformation ahead of his role in Prime Video’s upcoming ‘God of War’ series, showing fans that he has gained 20 pounds and now weighs 250 pounds.
Bautista shared the update through an Instagram Story on Sunday, November 1. In the video, the former WWE wrestler flexed his muscles while wearing a ‘God of War’ T-shirt and sporting a thick beard that brought him closer to the appearance of the famous video game character.
The message on the video read, “Gained 20 lbs for GOW,” alongside the number “250!” indicating his current weight. The update quickly caught the attention of fans, especially those who have followed his changing physique over the past few years.
The transformation comes after Bautista spent time deliberately losing weight to feel more comfortable and suit the roles he wanted to take on. Now, his new character has given him a reason to build his size back up.
Dave Bautista’s Weight Transformation Before Kratos
Bautista previously spoke about his weight changes during a September 2024 appearance on Chris Van Vliet’s ‘Insight’ podcast.
The actor revealed that he had reached around 315 pounds while preparing for the 2023 film ‘Knock at the Cabin’. However, he later admitted that he had gained too much weight in a short period and was uncomfortable with his size.
“Now, looking back at it I probably overdid it,” he said during the interview, explaining that he had become bigger than he needed to be for the role.
After filming the movie, Bautista began slimming down. He eventually reached around 240 pounds and explained that he felt better as he lost weight. He also noticed that a leaner appearance worked better on camera.
His latest update shows that he has now added around 20 pounds as he prepares to portray one of gaming’s most physically imposing characters.
Dave Bautista Replaces Ryan Hurst as Kratos
Bautista’s transformation follows a major casting change for the ‘God of War’ adaptation.
Ryan Hurst was originally announced as Kratos in January 2026. However, the actor suffered a serious bicep injury while performing a stunt during production in June. The injury required surgery and affected the show’s filming schedule, leading Amazon and Sony Pictures Television to recast the role.
Bautista was officially confirmed as the new Kratos on August 21, 2026. The actor is known for playing Drax in the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ films and has also appeared in ‘Dune: Part Two’ and ‘Knock at the Cabin’.
He began preparing for the role shortly after his casting was announced. In an Instagram update shared on September 1, Bautista revealed that he was already in his third week of weight training.
“2 more months to get to where I need to be,” he wrote at the time, adding, “Like ridin a bike! LFG!”
His latest post suggests that he has made significant progress toward his target physique.
What to Expect From Prime Video’s ‘God of War’
The live-action series is based on PlayStation’s popular video game franchise and follows Kratos, a former Greek god who now lives in the Norse realms with his son, Atreus.
The story focuses on their journey to scatter the ashes of Kratos’ wife, Faye. Along the way, the father and son face dangerous enemies while trying to understand each other.
The cast also includes Callum Vinson as Atreus, Ed Skrein as Baldur, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Mandy Patinkin as Odin and Alastair Duncan as Mimir.
Ronald D. Moore serves as the show’s writer and showrunner. Prime Video has ordered two seasons, with the production expected to continue after the recasting and the need to reshoot scenes originally filmed with Hurst.
Although Bautista has given fans an early look at his preparation, the streaming service has not announced an official premiere date. The series is currently expected to arrive in 2027.
