Just hours after the news came that Ryan Hurst was seriously injured while filming the TV series adaptation of the “God of War” video game series, production has decided not to wait for him to recover. Instead, Deadline reports that the lead role will now be recast.
Hurst underwent a physical transformation after getting the role, putting on nearly 20kg (around 40lbs) of muscle, and worked for months on the Vancouver set filming the physically demanding role until he was hurt performing his duties.
Shooting was running fine from February until last month, which is reportedly when Hurst sustained the injury – tearing his bicep badly enough to require surgery. He underwent the operation and is now recovering.
The series paused production immediately following the incident and remains on hiatus. The recovery time is unclear, but for a serious bicep tear like this it’s usually at least 4-6 months, with full strength taking up to a year to reach.
After careful consideration, Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios have now opted to recast the role as the production shooting schedule simply couldn’t accommodate a year-long wait along with the fact the role requires intense physicality.
Recasting is now underway, with preparation to resume in mid-August for a mid-October production start. Four episodes of the series had been fully completed at the time of the incident and will now be reshot with the new actor who will take over the role of Kratos.
The series received a two-season order with both seasons to be shot back-to-back. That reportedly remains the plan. The new schedule suggests the first season likely won’t premiere until sometime in 2028.
