Ryan Hurst has been forced to drop out of the lead role in Prime Video's adaptation of the popular video game God of War after a serious on-set injury. The 50-year-old actor, known for his roles in The Walking Dead and Sons of Anarchy, tore his bicep while performing a stunt. He has since undergone surgery and is recovering, but the injury is expected to sideline him for four to six months, with full strength not returning for up to a year.
Production Paused and Recasting Underway
According to TMZ, production on God of War was paused immediately after the incident and remains in hiatus. Deadline reports that Hurst's recovery will extend beyond what the production schedule can accommodate. Given the physical demands of playing Kratos, the hulking Spartan warrior, Hurst may not be able to meet those demands until 2027, even with rehabilitation.
Deadline cited sources saying that while Hurst's full recovery is a priority, the shooting schedule cannot wait. The show, commissioned for two series, began filming in February in Vancouver. Four episodes had been fully completed when the injury occurred. A reshoot of those episodes will be necessary with a new lead actor, as co-lead Callum Vinson, who plays Atreus, is growing up quickly and cannot be matched with existing footage. Vinson, 12, is known for roles in Chucky and Netflix's The Night Agent.
Impact on the Series
The recasting is a significant setback for the series, which has Ronald D. Moore as writer, executive producer, and showrunner. Hurst is currently appearing in theaters worldwide in Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated film Odyssey, where he plays Mentor.
The God of War video game first released for PlayStation 2 in 2005, following Kratos as he seeks revenge against the Olympian gods after being manipulated into killing his family. The series later shifted to Norse mythology, with Kratos and his son Atreus embarking on a journey to redefine their destinies. Amazon announced the live-action series in 2022, which will follow Kratos and Atreus as they spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye, with Kratos teaching his son to be a better god and Atreus teaching his father to be a better human.
