God of War must find a new actor to rescue the Prime Video show after a heartbreaking injury to its Kratos.
In late June, Ryan Hurst, the actor originally cast as Kratos, suffered a torn bicep that required surgery to fix. Recovery typically takes four to six months, pushing filming back to 2027. Instead of waiting for Hurst, Sony Pictures and Amazon MGM Studios have made the difficult decision to recast the role. With God of War on hiatus, the show is expected to enter prep in August and then shoot in mid-October.
Who will replace Hurst as Kratos? Here are three actors who could step into the role.
Who could replace Ryan Hurst as Kratos?
Travis Fimmel
Because Kratos is an extremely demanding role, you need an actor who can undergo a physical transformation and handle a difficult shoot. Travis Fimmel is an Australian actor best known for playing Ragnar Lothbrok in the History Channel’s Vikings. To play Ragnar, Fimmel reshaped his body to look like a functional warrior. If you’re going to replace a god, having someone who played a Viking isn’t a bad backup plan.
Fimmel also has experience in video game adaptations as he portrayed Anduin Lothar in Warcraft. Fimmel’s other notable roles include Caleb/Marcus in Raised by Wolves and Desmond Hart in Dune: Prophecy.
Pablo Schreiber
Before undergoing a complete physical transformation, it probably helps to be big and tall. Standing at six-foot-five and nearly 200 pounds, Pablo Schreiber is an actor who could play a believable Kratos. Schreiber is no stranger to bulking, as the actor put on 30 to 40 pounds of muscle to play Master Chief in Paramount+’s TV adaptation of Halo.
Speaking of physicality, Schreiber starred as Ray Merrimen in Den of Thieves. This was another role where Schreiber played a larger-than-life figure, a trait needed for God of War.
Rory McCann
Rory McCann knows a thing or two about playing menacing characters. McCann played Sandor “The Hound” Clegane in Game of Thrones. The Hound is one of the toughest warriors in Westeros. However, his sarcastic humor and honorable nature are what made him one of the show’s standout characters.
McCann will get his chance at another standout role as Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka, replacing the late Ray Stevenson. Perhaps McCann can add a third memorable role to his resume with Kratos.
