Dave Bautista Gains 20 Pounds for God of War Kratos Role

Dave Bautista has gained 20 pounds to reach 250 pounds for his role as Kratos. Filming for the live-action God of War series is set to begin in mid-October in Vancouver. The actor, who had previously lost 75 pounds in 2024 through diet and jiu-jitsu training, is now focused on building functional size for the demanding part. He posted on Instagram on September 1 that he was in his third week of weight training and had another two months to reach his desired physique. His latest Instagram post included the message 'Gained 20 lbs for GOW'.

The weight gain is designed for tactical agility and rugged, battle-tested strength rather than a bodybuilder's look. This transformation comes after fans had grown accustomed to Bautista's significantly leaner screen silhouette. He has eaten pancakes and French fries to help add the mass. The production will involve intense physical choreography requiring both power and mobility.

Context of previous physical changes

Bautista's current transformation follows a history of extreme weight fluctuations. He was previously at 265 pounds when fighting mixed martial arts. During his time as a WWE wrestler, he was listed at 290 pounds. Bautista retired from in-ring competition in 2019 after a career that included competing as part of Evolution alongside Triple H, Ric Flair, and Randy Orton. Reflecting on his earlier physique, Dave Bautista said: "I started slimming down because I…was uncomfortably big. Now looking back at it, I probably overdid it." He added, "I’ve sacrificed a lot of muscle. But I’m okay with it, because I just feel more comfortable."

Production details and casting shift

Filming begins next month after a significant recasting. Ryan Hurst was seriously injured during filming in June, four months into shooting the series, suffering a biceps injury that required surgery. Bautista was officially cast as Kratos in August, replacing Hurst. As a result, scenes already filmed with Hurst will have to be reshot with Bautista.

Series and cast information

The upcoming Prime Video series follows Kratos and his son Atreus as they journey across the Norse realms to scatter the ashes of Faye, Kratos' wife and Atreus' mother. Through their journey, Kratos attempts to teach his son how to become a better god, while Atreus tries to teach his father how to become a better human. The live-action adaptation of the popular PlayStation video game franchise has received a two-season order. Ronald D Moore serves as the writer and showrunner, with Frederick EO Toye directing the first two episodes. A premiere date has not yet been announced.

The full cast for the series includes:

Filming begins in mid-October with Bautista in his third week of weight training and two months to go to reach his target physique.