Ryan Hurst's own Kratos photo puts Amazon's official shots to shame

Ryan Hurst posted a photo of himself as Kratos to his Instagram story last week, and it looks dramatically better than the production stills Amazon released earlier this year. Hurst was originally cast as Kratos in Amazon's live-action God of War adaptation before a torn bicep forced a recast.

The image, first spotted by IGN and preserved on Reddit after the story expired, shows Hurst fully inhabiting the role — a stark contrast to the earlier official photos that drew widespread mockery, including from a former God of War developer who joked that Kratos looked like he was "Sting in the woods." Hurst had previously posted a now-deleted Instagram message reading "Don't believe everything you see on the internet, kids," strongly implying the official Amazon shots weren't representative of what he actually looked like in costume. The new photo backs that claim up hard.

God of War — Sony Santa Monica's 2018 soft reboot that reimagined Kratos as a grieving father navigating Norse mythology — is one of the most acclaimed games of the last decade, which is exactly why fans were already scrutinizing every casting and costume detail. Hurst, best known for Sons of Anarchy and The Walking Dead, had the physical presence and the emotional weight the role demands, and the community largely believed in him before the injury derailed everything.

Reaction on Reddit has shifted from mockery to genuine sympathy. "He looks the part, and everything was going well, and then tears his biceps," one user wrote. The comment captures the mood — fans aren't angry at Hurst anymore, they're frustrated on his behalf. Amazon has yet to announce a replacement, so who picks up the Leviathan Axe next remains an open question.