Christopher Judge, the acclaimed voice actor behind Kratos in the recent God of War games, has revealed his reasoning for not taking on the role in Amazon's upcoming live-action adaptation. Judge explained that at 62 years old, the prospect of working 16-to-18-hour days, constant dieting, and rigorous workouts required for a physically demanding role like Kratos in live-action was unappealing. He stated that he simply "has no desire to live that way again."
Judge initially expressed support for the casting of Ryan Hurst, who had played Kratos in the games and was an early choice for the show. However, after Hurst was injured, the production shifted, eventually leading to Dave Bautista being considered for the part. Judge noted his hope that Bautista would be great in the role, while also expressing concern about the potential health impact of the actor needing to regain weight.
While Judge briefly reconsidered the role after discussing it with his grandson and even began working out and reading for the part, the reality of the commitment proved too much. He found it surprisingly difficult to memorize lines, which was unlike his usual experience, and interpreted this as his mind and body signaling that he did not want to undertake the project. Judge drew a parallel to his experience on Stargate SG-1, where he was a lead from his early 30s to mid-40s but chose to stop. He felt that taking on a lead role of that intensity again at his current age was not something he wished to do.
Despite Judge's decision regarding the TV series, his involvement with the character of Kratos in video games appears to be ongoing. Sony Santa Monica has confirmed that a sequel to the latest God of War installment is in development, and it is expected that Judge will reprise his role as the titular demigod. The God of War TV series, meanwhile, is reportedly facing reshoots due to the casting changes, the final release date of which remains uncertain.