Although actor Ryan Hurst has officially withdrawn from the God of War adaptation project, he still gave fans a glimpse of an alternative version of his character. Recently, he posted a photo of himself dressed as Kratos on social media, sparking speculation about the behind-the-scenes reasons for the cast change.
The photo was deleted shortly after being posted. It appears this shot was taken during a test makeup session: unlike the official first look, which fans mocked as "amateur cosplay," the character's skin in this photo is not bright white. Many viewers pointed out that without the pale complexion from the source material, Kratos looks much more realistic. Additionally, Ryan's physique in this photo appears significantly more muscular than in the first promotional image released by Amazon.
Previously, Ryan Hurst was set to star in the series but exited the project under ambiguous circumstances. The official reason given was a torn bicep, but insiders have linked his departure to the negative backlash surrounding the initial costume reveal photos, as well as the streaming platform's desire to cast a bigger-name star. Currently, former WWE superstar Dave Bautista is being considered to replace Ryan.
It is worth noting that the actor himself has yet to comment on his injuries or Amazon's decision not to wait for his recovery. His sudden post and subsequent deletion have only fueled speculation that Ryan was disappointed with how the production presented his look to the public. In addition to the lead role, the casting for Atreus will also be adjusted: Callum Vinson will likewise be replaced in Season 2, and there is even a possibility that scenes from Season 1 could be reshot with a new actor.