Dave Bautista Gained 20 Pounds of Muscle to Play Kratos in God of War
Boy. He's been lifting.
Dave Bautista is officially Kratos-sized, and the Guardians of the Galaxy star posted a new video to his Instagram story with the text "Gained 20 lbs for GOW" and a "250" sticker, showing off how much muscle he's put on for Prime Video's God of War series (IGN). He's even wearing a God of War shirt in the clip, in case anyone missed the point.
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Why does the weight matter so much?
A lot of fans were worried about it, since Bautista averaged about 290 pounds during his WWE career, but he's dropped a lot of muscle over the past few years to open up more acting roles and feel more comfortable on camera (IGN). When he was announced as Kratos, some fans weren't sure the slimmer Bautista could pass for the Ghost of Sparta.
In early September, he posted a video flexing after three weeks of weight training and said he had two months to "get where he needs to be." Two months later, he's officially 20 pounds heavier. (Kratos would still say it's not enough. Kratos says that about everything.)
How did Bautista get the role?
He wasn't the original choice, since Ryan Hurst, who voiced Thor in God of War Ragnarök, was originally cast as Kratos. In August, Hurst tore a bicep while filming a stunt for the series, and he had to leave the production because of how long his recovery would take (IGN). Bautista officially stepped into the role that same month.
It's a fun bit of casting history, too, since Bautista has been open for years about wanting to play Kratos. He basically campaigned for the job publicly, long before Prime Video ever announced the series.
What is the God of War show about?
The series is based on the Norse era of the games, which started with 2018's God of War. It follows Kratos and his son Atreus, played by Callum Vinson, as they set out to spread the ashes of Faye, Kratos' wife and Atreus' mother, from the highest peak in the nine realms (IGN). Prime Video has already ordered two seasons, which should give the show room to cover a lot of the story.
My read is that this update matters more than it looks, because Kratos is a character fans recognize by silhouette alone, and the first photo of Bautista in the beard and red tattoo is going to make or break a lot of people's opinion of the show. A Kratos who looks like he could actually throw a troll across a battlefield is a great start.
If you want to see where the show's story comes from, the Norse saga is the place to start.
Is Bautista the right Kratos? Tell us in the comments.
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Header image and in-article images are official screenshots from God of War, from Santa Monica Studio and Sony Interactive Entertainment via Steam.
