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Christopher Judge Physically Prepared to Play Kratos in Live-Action God of War Series, but Backed Down for This Reason
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.
In short
- Christopher Judge trained for Kratos role but chose not to pursue it.
- Cited the physical toll of leading a show at 62.
- Praised original casting of Ryan Hurst and now Dave Bautista's replacement.
Explained simply
God of War is a video game series about Kratos, a warrior from ancient Greece who becomes involved in conflicts with gods and other mythical figures. The newer games draw on Norse mythology, where Kratos lives with his son Atreus.
Christopher Judge is an actor best known for voicing Kratos in the games. Prime Video is developing a live-action television adaptation, in which actors will portray the characters on screen; Ryan Hurst was initially cast as Kratos, and Dave Bautista is also an established screen actor.
Playing Kratos can involve demanding physical preparation, and the role calls for an actor to lead the series. Judge has experience playing a lead in Stargate for more than a decade, which gives context to his concerns about the long schedule and training involved.
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