Christopher Judge, best known for voicing Kratos in the God of War games, has revealed he began physically training and learning lines for the role of Kratos in Prime Video's upcoming live-action adaptation before deciding against pursuing the part. Speaking at a Fan Expo Canada panel, the 62-year-old actor said the realisation that he no longer wanted to commit to the gruelling schedule and constant dieting and training required of a lead role prompted him to step back, drawing on his experience leading Stargate for over a decade.

Judge said he struggled to memorise his lines during the audition process, which he took as a sign his body and mind were telling him not to take the role. He said he supports Ryan Hurst's original casting, calling it a perfect fit given Hurst's history as a God of War player, but was sympathetic when Hurst tore his bicep on set in July, leading Amazon to recast Dave Bautista, whose recent significant weight loss has left Judge hoping the physical demands of the role won't cause him health problems.