Dave Bautista is getting considerably bigger for his next major role, and his latest update suggests the transformation into God of War's Kratos is well underway.
The 57-year-old actor and former WWE star has revealed that he has gained 20 pounds (around 9kg) while preparing to portray the legendary Spartan warrior in Prime Video's live-action adaptation of the PlayStation franchise.
In an Instagram Story shared on November 1, Bautista appeared wearing a God of War T-shirt while showing off his physique. The video featured the message "Gained 20 lbs for GOW" alongside a "250" sticker, apparently indicating that he now weighs 250 pounds (approximately 113kg).
The footage was subsequently shared by DiscussingFilm, attracting renewed attention to Bautista's preparations for the series.
Although some coverage has described the transformation as a gain of 20 pounds of muscle, there is an important distinction: Bautista's message refers to his overall weight gain, rather than providing a verified measurement of additional muscle mass.
The update also follows a training target he publicly outlined roughly two months earlier. In September, Bautista revealed that he was three weeks into lifting weights again and expected to need another two months to reach his desired condition for the role.
He described returning to weight training as "Like ridin a bike!" — a comment from that earlier update, rather than a new statement accompanying the November footage.
Why Dave Bautista replaced Ryan Hurst as Kratos
Bautista's physical preparations are taking place against an unusually complicated production history.
Ryan Hurst, known for Sons of Anarchy and for voicing Thor in the video game God of War Ragnarök, was originally cast as Kratos. Production began in Vancouver in February 2026, but Hurst suffered a torn bicep during filming in June.
The injury required surgery, and waiting for his recovery would reportedly have delayed the production's return until 2027. Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Television consequently decided to recast the central role.
In August, Variety confirmed Bautista's casting, reporting that scenes previously filmed with Hurst would need to be reshot with his replacement.
That makes Bautista's training updates particularly relevant: the actor is preparing to take over an exceptionally physical character in a production that has already faced significant disruption.
What to expect from Prime Video's God of War series
Despite its turbulent casting history, the television adaptation has an ambitious plan. Prime Video has already ordered two seasons, with Ronald D. Moore, whose credits include Battlestar Galactica and Outlander, serving as showrunner.
Rather than beginning with Kratos' original adventures against the Greek gods, the series draws on the more recent games inspired by Norse mythology.
The central story follows Kratos and his young son Atreus, played by Callum Vinson, as they journey to scatter the ashes of Faye, their wife and mother. Along the way, their difficult relationship develops against a backdrop of gods, monsters and conflicts across the Norse realms.
The cast also includes Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor and Max Parker as Heimdall.
According to Amazon's official series information, production is underway, but a premiere date has not yet been announced.
For now, Bautista's 250-pound update offers a glimpse of his preparation, not a first look at his finished portrayal of Kratos. Whether the transformation translates into a convincing Ghost of Sparta will become clearer when Prime Video reveals footage of the actor in character.
