Christopher Judge is the man who took over from Terrence C. Carson as Kratos for the latest God of War, but when he received the script for the first time, he thought it was for a blockbuster movie. Speaking with BBC Newsbeat, the actor, also famous for his role in Stargate SG-1, had "no clue" the script was for a game when it was first sent to him.
"I'm sure my agents purposefully didn't tell me it was for a game because I'd been staunchly against doing them in the past," Says Judge.
He even went through part of the auditioning process none the wiser. "I had to act out the audition. That's something you don't have to do for theatrical auditions, so that was my first clue.
"The material was so good though I didn't care, and after a further call back I was told it was for a game but I was fine with it because it didn't seem to be written like that."
Judge was called once again to attend a chemistry test with who would become Atreus, Sunny Suljic. "I called my agent and said 'Are you sure this is for a game?'"
Games have starred more famous faces and voices in recent years, such as Kevin Spacey in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and Kiefer Sutherland in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. According to Judge, this is only going to increase. The old fashioned view that acting in games is "where old actors go to die" has apparently changed.
"Now every actor I know is searching for a lead role in a game so that's how far the industry has come. Games are not just about the gameplay any more, but about the stories. There are wonderful tales to be told in this medium, and it truly is just another form to exercise your craft."
What do you think of Judge's performance as the main man in God of War? Voice your opinion in the comments below.
[source bbc.co.uk]
Comments 29
Judge Judy should play the witch.
Judge Dredd should play the end boss.
Judge Rinder should play the love interest.
What a game that would be.
Its the best performance, its like he's playing the role from the first gow
Way better compared to kiefer sutherland on mgs v, every time he speak I was like "who is this person, he's not snake"
The last time I played god of war 3 remastered about 2 year ago, kratos sounds like 13 year old (with all the shouting), I don't know why but I remember kratos voice in gow 3 sound cooler 8 years ago on ps3..
Really fascinating take. He’s been awesome & the voice acting in general in GOW is on point.
‘Games are not just about the gameplay any more, but about the stories.’
This is what draws me to games now. Gameplay is important, but if I’m not invested then I’m not going to care. Story is just as important as gameplay.
@wiiware omg hush
This game has a different Kratos voice actor?! 😱 Haven’t played it yet. I had no idea.
@themcnoisy And Judge John Deed should play the talking head.
I will be the judge of that.that would have been legendary.it would be like clash of the titans.especially the 1981 legendary movie.but this game is legendary so more kratos the better.word up son
Was never really a fan of the Stargate series but yet for some reason found it really cool he'd been cast as Kratos. Maybe it's because I heard him in the role before I realised and thought 'damn that's some good voice acting.............BOY!'
I bet there's hundreds of people that didn't know him and that now love him thanks to the game! So he made the right choice, he made an awesome job
Judge Rinder is camp enough to play any love interest 😂
On a serious note tho the voice acting in this game is top tier by all. I especially love the accent of "the head". Can't really fault this game so far but I've just found out I'm only just over half way through when I thought I was almost done. I hope they don't string the final chapters out too much to bulk out gameplay as opposed to keeping the story as tight as it has been. We shall see.
Oh and sticking with the name theme. Mike Judge (writer of Beavis and Butthead and Office Space) can write the next script lol.
He sounds like Kratos, but better and with more emotion. I love it.
Not sure how he could have ever thought it was for a movie. Sure, there is a great chemistry between the 2, and some really funny dialogue, but 90% of his lines are "Boy" "I do not know" and simply "No".
In my mind "I do not know" has already overtaken "I see" from Shemue as my favorite video game cliche'. Last night I asked my wife a question and she answered "I do not know." and I looked at her, she realized what she had said - she's been watching me play most of my so far 22 hours - and we both laughed.
So congrats to Judge, he has an iconic line.
Now we need a new mash-up fighter so Kratos can fight Groot.
Groot - I am Groot?
Kratos - I do not know.
Groot - I AM Groot.
Kratos - I do NOT know.
Groot - I AM GROOT!
Kratos - I DO NOT KNOW!
I really like Judge as Kratos. Especially an aged Kratos.
Going to be honest, I didn't like him when I first heard him back during E3 2016, but the voice grew on me and I prefer it over the original.
I like it when he says Boy.
The funny thing is that it’s been this way for so long. Sly Cooper, DMC3, Persona 3&4 I’m sure (haven’t played them yet), and many more have always been able to compete with similar movies. Some doing them better than then the movie might have. I’m not saying there all better than movies, but it’s not like movies are always 10/10 scripts and masterpieces. Games are getting more story focused which is great, but it’s just funny the reputation they’ve had is so undue.
@Jaz007 Its not really. Pesona 4 which is one of my favourites isnt exactly Snatch or Shawshank Redemption quality. The only game which imo has matched up is Mass Effect 1 and 2 and some walking sims and telltale games. Maybe MGS at times at a big push.
Fortunately its catching up and we are a couple of years from the big moment when everyone goes. Holy ship this is better than film.
@themcnoisy Already there - Leisure Suit Larry is better then most films I stream online.
Indeed.
@themcnoisy I’d personally say Persona 5 is better than anything movie personally (or really anything for that matter ), and part of my point is big name actors don’t care about being in Avengers or other movies like that. That’s why I listed games like DMC3, a movie that had crazy action like DMC that a big name actor would have no problem being in while a game similar might have a an equal or better story. They act like every movie is like Shankshaw Redemption (I should see that) when they’re not.
Also interesting on the choice of ME1, as that’s one I wouldn’t really put up there.
I mean I think it’s funny that God of War is pushing it, because from what I’ve read, it’s not quite artistic like Persona or other games are. It’s just a really good story, though not an artistic masterpiece. (Not a bad thing).
@Th3solution I didn't know either, with the trailers I've seen, it wasn't noticeable to me
So he read that half the script was him saying ''boy'', and his first thought was that it's for a big film?
@Th3solution Dont worry his voice is awsome. Watched the trailer a lot of times just just for his roar. 😁
@Flaming_Kaiser That’s good. Apparently the change is not off putting. I’m still reeling from Ashly Burch not replaying Chloe in Before the Storm. Eh, oh well. Now if she doesn’t voice Aloy in HZD2, then we’re gonna have a riot on our hands.
Christopher Judge did an outstanding job and that goes to all the cast of the game.
@Th3solution She wasn't Chloe again because of the voice actors' strike that happened recently. I'm sure that she really wants to be Aloy again.
He wouldn’t have if it was an EA-made game.
@themcnoisy only if Judge Jules does the soundtrack.
I'm so glad more and more people are realising how far games have come.
Tap here to load 29 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...