Christopher Judge, the actor behind Kratos in God of War and Ragnarök, has criticised Amazon’s live-action God of War series for hiring none of the writers who made the games. Speaking at a Fan Expo panel earlier this summer, Judge took aim at an industry habit: adapting successful games without the people responsible for them.
“My problem with all game adaptations [is] you have this pre-existing, successful property, and the first thing you do is not hire anyone associated with it,” Judge said, with HBO’s The Last of Us as his example of the approach that works.
“The Last of Us — love Pedro [Pascal] — were they better than the game cast? I saw a stage reading that they did. It was unreal. I have no idea why you don’t take that cast, those writers, especially when you are going to do episodes that are shot-for-shot remakes of the game.”
Christopher Judge, speaking at a Fan Expo panel (via IGN)
He reserved the sharper question for Amazon’s own project:
“When Amazon [announced the God of War TV series] and they didn’t hire any of the God of War writers… what are you thinking? These guys have been immersed in this world for 20 years. But someone’s going to know better?”
Christopher Judge (via IGN)
Cory Barlog, the creative director behind the modern God of War games, holds an executive producer credit on the series alongside PlayStation boss Hermen Hulst. How hands-on either of them is remains unclear — a contrast with The Last of Us, where creator Neil Druckmann was showrunner, writer and director on the first two seasons.
The comments land as the show rebuilds its cast. Filming stopped in July when Ryan Hurst, cast as Kratos, injured himself performing a stunt; production has opted to recast, with Dave Bautista in talks for the role and filming expected to restart this fall. Some hoped the show would use the opportunity to cast Judge as live-action Kratos — the build, the voice, two decades on the character. It does not appear to be happening.
Judge returns to the role in God of War Laufey on 16 February 2027, and is expected to lead a new Kratos-focused game after it. Sony Santa Monica is also remaking the original trilogy, with original Kratos actor TC Carson back. The show, meanwhile, still has no release date; it will stream on Prime Video.
Who is Christopher Judge?
Christopher Judge is the actor behind Kratos in God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök, and is best known outside gaming as Teal’c in Stargate SG-1. He returns as Kratos in God of War Laufey, out 16 February 2027.
Who is writing the God of War TV series?
Amazon has not announced the show’s writers, and Christopher Judge says none of the game’s writers were hired. Cory Barlog, creative director of the modern God of War games, carries an executive producer credit alongside PlayStation boss Hermen Hulst, but how involved either of them is remains unclear.
Who plays Kratos in the live-action God of War series?
Ryan Hurst was cast as Kratos before injuring himself performing a stunt in July 2026. Production has opted to recast, with Dave Bautista reportedly in talks; filming is expected to restart this fall. The series has no release date yet and will stream on Prime Video.
