The rumours appear to be true. Actor Dave Bautista - best known for his role as Drax the Destroyer in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy series, and the Avengers films - has reportedly taken over as Kratos in Amazon's live-action God of War series.

Variety ran a story 'confirming' the news overnight, saying it had learnt this would be the case. It was also Variety that ran a story earlier in the month suggesting Bautista was in talks with Amazon to replace original Kratos actor Ryan Hurst, who tore his bicep while filming and couldn't continue.

The God of War show apparently has a two-season order, meaning two seasons will be shot back-to-back, and filming is expected to resume in the coming weeks. Filming had been under way in February but was halted after Hurst's injury. All Hurst's scenes will reportedly, and understandably, be re-shot.

Dave Bautista, now 57 years old, made a name for himself as WWE wrestler Batista between 2002 and 2010, after which he had a protracted break and returned, eventually, part-time. In 2014 he starred in off-beat superhero film Guardians of the Galaxy, and has since enjoyed a prosperous acting career, most recently appearing with Jason Momoa in buddy cop action film The Wrecking Crew - also made by Amazon.

Bautista has slimmed down somewhat since his wrestling days, and previously expressed doubt - or perhaps apprehension - at continuing to play the role of an action hero. "I'm not the great, big, muscular guy I used to be," Bautista told Entertainment Weekly in 2024. "I'm not going to get action roles into my 50s.

"I guess I look like that guy who just couldn't wait until the next Fast & Furious movie came out, but I love small, contained indie dramas. I want to be a real and respected actor. I have anxiety. I'm constantly thinking, 'This is going to be my last project; the phone's going to stop ringing.'" Evidently, it hasn't.

Amazon's new God of War series has been created by Ronald D. Moore, an award-winning writer and producer who spent many years on Star Trek before working on the Battlestar Galactica series and the long-running Outlander show. No release date for the God of War series has yet been announced.