Ryan Hurst has given fans a much stronger look at how he could have appeared as Kratos in Amazon’s planned adaptation of the 2018 God of War game.
Hurst was initially cast as the older, battle-worn Spartan warrior before reports said he tore his bicep. Amazon subsequently began considering other options for the role.
First spotted by IGN, the image was shared through Hurst’s Instagram story last week. It presents a much more convincing version of the character than the production stills released earlier in the year, prompting fans to reconsider what the series may have lost.
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© Ryan Hurst
Fans change their minds after the new image
The reaction has been notably more sympathetic than the response to Amazon’s first-look material. Hurst was mocked online after those images appeared, including by a former God of War developer.
Hurst later posted, then deleted, an Instagram story saying, “Don’t believe everything you see on the internet, kids,” which seemed to suggest that the initial image did not show him at his best as Kratos.
The new photograph has since circulated as which has been preserved by Reddit. One commenter expressed sympathy after seeing the actor’s apparent fit for the part, while another argued that the reception would have been very different if this had been the first image released.
Amazon has not announced a replacement
Amazon is still looking for its new Kratos, and no replacement has been officially announced. Dave Bautista has reportedly been considered, but Hurst’s improved look has led some fans to hope the production waits until he has recovered.
One Reddit user summed up that view by arguing Amazon should let Hurst recover, even if that meant waiting two or three more years, provided the story and cast were given time to deliver.
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