Dave Bautista Packs on 20 Pounds of Muscle to Play Kratos in GOD OF WAR
Dave Bautista is getting back into beast mode for Prime Video’s upcoming God of War series, and he’s already packed on 20 pounds of muscle to transform himself into Kratos.
The former WWE star has been hitting the weights again, and his latest update shows he’s making some serious progress toward becoming the legendary PlayStation character.
Bautista revealed that he’s now weighing in at 250 pounds, a significant change after spending the last few years slimming down. He’s also growing out a thick beard to match Kratos’ signature look, and it sounds like he’s having a pretty good time getting back into fighting shape.
The actor started sharing his transformation he replaced Ryan Hurst as Kratos. In early September, Bautista posted a shirtless photo on Instagram showing off his progress, writing: “3rd week in to weight training again. 2 more months to get to where I need to be. Like ridin a bike! LFG!”
For Bautista, putting on muscle isn’t exactly unfamiliar territory. The former wrestler was once listed by WWE at 290 pounds and competed in mixed martial arts at 265 pounds. He even pushed his weight beyond 300 pounds while preparing for M. Night Shyamalan’s 2023 thriller Knock on the Cabin.
That experience eventually convinced him to make some major changes to his physique. During a 2024 appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Bautista explained why he decided to lose so much weight.
“I started slimming down because I…was uncomfortably big. Now looking back at it, I probably overdid it.” He also admitted that pancakes and French fries helped him reach that size. “At the time, I was just thinking, ‘I gotta get big, I gotta get big.'”
Through a combination of dieting and jiu-jitsu training, Bautista dropped 75 pounds, leaving him noticeably leaner. Fans got a good look at his slimmer physique during appearances promoting The Killer’s Game in 2024. “I’ve sacrificed a lot of muscle. But I’m okay with it, because I just feel more comfortable.”
Now, with Kratos calling, Bautista has a reason to put some of that muscle back on. Considering the character is practically a walking mountain of rage and raw strength, the extra size should serve him well.
Bautista stepped into the role following an unfortunate injury suffered by Hurst, who had originally been cast as Kratos. The actor tore his bicep while performing a stunt in June, approximately four months into production.
The live-action God of War adaptation is based on the popular PlayStation franchise and follows Kratos and his young son Atreus, played by Callum Vinson, on a journey to spread the ashes of Faye, their wife and mother. Along the way, Kratos attempts to teach Atreus how to become a better god, while his son helps him understand what it means to be human.
It’s a story that brings plenty of brutal action, Norse mythology, and complicated family relationships to the screen. Bautista certainly has the physical presence for Kratos, but the real challenge will be capturing the character’s relationship with Atreus and the emotional weight that made the games so memorable.
The series also features a great cast, including Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Ed Skrein as Baldur, Max Parker as Heimdall, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Teresa Palmer as Sif, Alastair Duncan as Mimir, Jeff Gulka as Sindri, Danny Woodburn as Brok, Sonya Walger as Freya, Island Austin as Thrud, Ben Chapple as Magni, Louis Cunningham as Modi, and Evelyn Miller as Gna.
Bautista has already shown that he can handle physically imposing characters, from Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy to his upcoming role in Road House 2. Kratos, however, gives him the opportunity to combine that intimidating presence with some serious dramatic material.
With 20 pounds already added and the beard coming along nicely, Bautista is looking more and more like the Ghost of Sparta. Now we just need to see him with the Leviathan Axe in his hands.
What do you think about Bautista taking over as Kratos? Is he the right guy to bring the God of War legend to life?
