GOD OF WAR Star Christopher Judge Calls Out THE LAST OF US and Game Adaptations for Leaving Game Creators Behind

Video game adaptations are having one hell of a run right now. Shows and movies based on games are everywhere, with The Last of Us, Fallout, The Witcher, and Resident Evil among the major franchises making the jump to live action.

But Christopher Judge, the actor who brings Kratos to life in God of War, has a serious problem with the way Hollywood keeps approaching these projects.

Why take a successful game with an established creative team, proven writers, and actors who already understand these characters inside and out, only to leave many of those people out when adapting it?

During a recent Fan Expo panel, Judge laid out his frustration with the process, arguing that Hollywood has a strange habit of distancing itself from the very people who helped make these properties successful.

"My problem with all game adaptations," Judge says, " [is] you have this pre-existing, successful property… and the first thing you do is not hire anyone associated with it."

It's a fair question, especially as more adaptations recreate material directly from their source games. Judge specifically pointed to The Last of Us and made it clear that he enjoyed Pedro Pascal as Joel.

His criticism isn't about Pascal's performance. Instead, he wonders why the original performers aren't given more consideration when they've already proven they can deliver these characters.

"The Last of Us – loved Pedro [Pascal] – were they better than the game cast? I saw a stage reading they did. It was unreal."

The original Joel was performed by Troy Baker, who ultimately appeared in HBO's The Last of Us in a different role. Judge's point gets especially interesting when you remember how cinematic modern video game performances have become.

These actors aren't simply recording dialogue in a booth. Many games are created through full performance capture, requiring actors to physically inhabit their characters alongside the rest of the cast.

Judge doesn't understand why studios are so eager to replace that creative foundation when translating a game to television or film.

"I have no idea why you don't just take that cast, those writers, especially when you're gonna do episodes that are shot-for-shot remakes of the game."

That argument isn't limited to actors, either. Judge seems particularly frustrated by adaptations that move forward without the writers who spent years developing the characters, mythology, and stories audiences already love.

Naturally, that brings the conversation around to God of War, which is currently being developed as a TV series at Amazon. Judge has spent years playing Kratos, including his acclaimed performances in God of War and God of War Ragnarök, but the upcoming adaptation is taking its own path.

There is at least one familiar face involved, with Alastair Duncan, who plays Mimir in the games, connected to the series. But Judge's bigger issue is the absence of the God of War game's writers.

"When Amazon['s show] was finally approved and announced, 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 gonna know better?"

Judge also pointed to the sales success of the games, reinforcing the obvious question: if the existing creative team helped turn God of War into a massive franchise, why wouldn't an adaptation want that knowledge in the room? "You can't tell these writers how to tell stories"

It's hard not to appreciate Judge's frustration. An adaptation doesn't necessarily need to use every actor, writer, or developer from the original game.

Television and games are different mediums, and sometimes a new interpretation can produce something great. But bringing the people who built that world into the process seems like a pretty useful resource.

The response from fans appears to be firmly in Judge's corner as well. The top comment on the Reddit discussion of his remarks reads, "Someone FINALLY said it."

Video game adaptations have come a long way from the days when Hollywood seemed embarrassed by the games it was adapting. The Last of Us helped prove that audiences will embrace a series that takes its source material seriously, and the growing number of game-based projects suggests studios have gotten the message.

Judge's argument is that they should take that respect one step further. Don't just respect the game, respect the people who made it.

With the God of War TV series on the way, we'll eventually see whether Amazon can capture what made Kratos' story so powerful. Judge, however, has made his position pretty clear. When you've already got people who understand this world better than almost anyone, maybe invite them into the room.