Don’t expect to see James Marsters to reprise his role as Detective Grant Mars from the Without a Trace television show. The actor/musician told fans the studio was likely “pissed off” when he declined to resign his contract in favor of other work.

“I thought that they were pretty much done with me,” said Marsters when explaining to fans at Dragon*Con 2008. The studio signed him to a partial contract that meant he wasn’t locked in for the entire season but was also paid less money.

Marsters declined to return after signing on to play Lord Piccolo in the Dragon Ball live-action movie, which is currently in post production and due out in theaters next year.

“I didn’t have to do very much research,” he said of the film. “I have a son, so I’ve probably watched every single episode of Dragon Ball.”

The story was something Marsters really identified with, he said, adding that Goku’s nature to choose violence only as a last resort was a trait all young boys should be exposed to.

“Having said that, the hyper-violence of Dragon Ball has to be there, but in the right context,” he said. “I’ve had debates with my son about it.”