When we got news that Ryan Hurst, who was scheduled to play Kratos in the upcoming Amazon God of War video game adaptation, got injured and would have to be replaced, it was pretty shocking.
In fact, it kind of upended everything we knew about the series, which will eventually be available with a Prime subscription, as how can you have a God of War show without Kratos? However, there’s now word that former pro-wrestler and current movie star, Dave Bautista, may be up to replace Hurst, and my only question is, why wasn’t he ALREADY the choice to play the character?
Honestly, when you think of the wrestlers who turned actors, I’d put Bautista on the top of that list. So, here’s why I’m shocked that Amazon is JUST coming to this decision.
Dave Bautista Is Literally The Perfect Actor To Play Kratos
Here’s the thing about Kratos - he has history, and surprising depth. This is a man who once slaughtered his entire family and has gone through life regretting his past when he was younger, and Dave Bautista would be perfect for this performance.
A lot of people think of Bautista as Drax the Destroyer from the Guardians of the Galaxy films, and that’s good, because like Drax, Kratos also has a vengeful side to him as he hunts down the gods and deities. However, the Kratos we’re getting in this new series follows the one from the 2018 game, who is a quieter and more introspective character than in other games.
For this, I think of Bautista’s roles in movies like Blade Runner 2049, the Dune series, and, surprisingly, his voice work in the new animated Avatar movie, Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender. This is an actor who can go from rage-fueled to somber and meditative at the flip of a switch, and this is the Kratos we get in the 2018 game, as well as God of War: Ragnarok. In fact…
What’s More, He’d Be Great As A Weary, Over-It Kratos, Just Like The One From The Later Titles
Do you want to know another movie of Bautista’s that makes me think that he’d be the perfect Kratos? 2020’s My Spy, of all movies. In the action-comedy, he plays a CIA agent who watches over (and later depends upon) a 9-year-old girl, and it just makes me think about Kratos’ relationship with his son, Atreus.
In the game, which a lot of people playfully refer to as “Dad of War”, Kratos is drastically different from the one we got in the earlier titles. This is very much more of a weary, over-it Kratos who really just wants to be left alone to take care of his son after the death of his wife, Laufey. In fact, his journey is to honor his wife’s death and to scatter her ashes at the top of the highest peak in the Nine Realms.
I think Bautista would be perfect for this. I can envision him being totally lost in thought after just eviscerating a horde of enemies with his axe. It would be wonderful.
I Hate To Say It, But Now I’m Actually Interested In This Series, Whereas Before, I Just Wanted To See It Fail
Haters gonna hate, but before news of Dave Bautista possibly getting the role of Kratos emerged, I genuinely wanted to see this show fail.
You see, I really hated the Halo series from Paramount+, and after seeing that image of Ryan Hurst crouching in the woods, I already thought, This is gonna suck so hard, and lost all hope.
But Dave Bautista as Kratos? Yep, sign me up. Now THAT I want to see.
So, again, my only question is, what took you so long, Amazon? Isn’t it clear? Dave Bautista would be the perfect Kratos!
