Christopher Judge, who voices Kratos in Sony Santa Monica's God of War games, has addressed why he isn't playing the character in Amazon's upcoming live-action TV adaptation. Speaking at a Fan Expo Canada panel, Judge told Collider that he initially supported Ryan Hurst's casting in the role, calling him a gamer and new father who had played all the games and seemed like an ideal fit.
Hurst left the production after suffering an on-set injury, according to GamesRadar+. When Judge learned that Dave Bautista was brought in to replace Hurst, he noted that Bautista had reportedly lost around 100 pounds recently and said he hopes the role doesn't cause him health issues from having to regain that weight. Judge added that he thinks Bautista will be great in the part.
Judge revealed that he briefly considered taking on the role of Kratos himself after a conversation with his grandson about what a great legacy it would be to leave behind. He began working out and eventually read for the part. However, he found it unusually difficult to memorize his lines, something he said he'd never previously struggled with, which he interpreted as a sign from his mind and body that he shouldn't pursue the role.
Ultimately, Judge decided against taking on the demands of a live-action lead role at 62 years old, citing the prospect of working 16-to-18-hour days, constant dieting, and continuous physical training. He compared it to his experience as a lead on Stargate SG-1 from ages 33 to 44, saying he has no desire to live that way again.
Judge's decision doesn't mean he's done playing Kratos altogether. According to Kotaku, Sony Santa Monica has confirmed that while the upcoming game God of War Laufey will not star Kratos, another sequel already in development will bring the character back, with Judge expected to return in the role for that game.
Meanwhile, the Amazon TV series will need to reshoot previously completed episodes to accommodate Bautista replacing Hurst as Kratos, a process that could affect when the show ultimately airs.