Dave Bautista Hits the Gym to Become Kratos in God of War

Dave Bautista is getting serious about his transformation for one of his biggest roles yet.

The actor and former WWE star has begun a new weight-training program to prepare to play Kratos, the powerful Greek warrior at the center of Prime Video’s upcoming God of War series.

Bautista recently shared a video from the gym on Instagram, showing off his growing muscles and giving fans a glimpse of his intense preparation. He said he is three weeks into his training and still has two more months to go.

“Third week in to weight training again. Two more months to get to where I need to be. Like ridin’ a bike!” Bautista wrote alongside the video. He also let out a fierce roar for the camera, giving fans a taste of the character’s intimidating presence.

Bautista Takes Over as Kratos

Bautista officially joined God of War on August 20, replacing Ryan Hurst as Kratos.

Hurst, who had originally been cast in the role, suffered a bicep injury while filming and required surgery. The injury would have pushed production into 2027, leading Prime Video to recast the part.

Production on the series began in Vancouver in February. Because filming had already started with Hurst, scenes featuring the original Kratos will need to be filmed again with Bautista.

Prime Video has ordered two seasons of God of War, which are expected to be filmed back-to-back.

A Story About Kratos and His Son

The series will be based on the stories from the two most recent God of War video games.

The show follows Kratos and his young son, Atreus, as they travel through a dangerous world filled with powerful gods and monsters. Their mission is to spread the ashes of Faye, Kratos’ wife and Atreus’ mother.

Along the way, the relationship between father and son becomes just as important as the battles they face. Kratos wants to teach Atreus how to become a better god, while Atreus hopes to teach his father how to become a better human.

Young actor Callum Vinson will play Atreus.

Bautista Knows How to Play Powerful Characters

Bautista already has plenty of experience playing physically imposing characters.

He became a global star as Drax the Destroyer in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers films. His WWE background and mixed martial arts experience have also helped him build a reputation for playing tough, physically demanding roles.

He will next be seen in Road House 2 and the upcoming Highlander reboot.

With two months of training still ahead, Bautista appears determined to bring the size and strength needed to make his version of Kratos convincing. Fans will now be watching closely to see just how much the actor transforms before filming resumes.