Dave Bautista gains 20 pounds of muscle for 'God of War' role

Dave Bautista reveals 20-pound muscle gain as he prepares to portray Kratos in Prime Video's 'God of War' series

Dave Bautista has revealed that he has gained 20 pounds of muscle while preparing to play Kratos in Prime Video's upcoming God of War television series.

The actor shared the update in a video posted to his Instagram story, accompanied by the text "Gained 20 lbs for GOW" and a “250” sticker indicating his current weight. Bautista was also wearing a God of War T-shirt in the post.

Dave Bautista reveals he has gained 20 more pounds of muscle for playing Kratos in ‘GOD OF WAR’.

He has now reached 250 pounds. pic.twitter.com/fUOr0P7EAB

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) November 1, 2026

Bautista was officially cast as Kratos in August, replacing Ryan Hurst, who had to leave the production after tearing a bicep while filming a stunt. Hurst's expected recovery period meant he could no longer continue with the role.

In early September, Bautista shared another video showing his physical training progress. At the time, he revealed that he had been weight training for three weeks and had two months to "get where he needs to be."

The latest update suggests that the actor has made significant progress towards his physical transformation for the part.

During his WWE wrestling career, Bautista maintained an average weight of around 290 pounds. In recent years, however, he deliberately reduced his muscle mass to pursue a wider range of acting roles and feel more comfortable on camera.

His slimmer appearance prompted some God of War fans to question whether he would suit the physically imposing video game character.

The Prime Video adaptation will be based on the Norse mythology era of the PlayStation game franchise.

It will follow Kratos and his son Atreus, played by Callum Vinson, as they travel across the nine realms to spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye, at the highest peak.