Christopher Judge, best known for his portrayal of Kratos in 2018's God of War and God of War Ragnarok, declined to voice the younger version of the iconic character in the game's highly-regarded DLC, Valhalla. In the franchise's Greek-inspired original trilogy, the voice of the vengeful Spartan was voiced by Terrence C. Carson.
Christopher Judge’s reluctance to voice the younger version of Kratos is related to his immense respect for Carson. During his live interview streamed on Streamily.com, he stated that he would decline the offer even if approached, emphasising the uniqueness and excellence of Carson’s contribution to the role. The discussion takes place between 27:05 and 29:45 of the interview.
In the original God of War games, Carson portrayed Kratos in his furious battles against the Gods of Olympus. It differs from Christopher Judge's older version in God of War 2018, where players pick up on Kratos' journey in Norse territory as he strives for a more peaceful future with his son Atreus. The contrast is highlighted in the Valhalla DLC of God of War Ragnarok, where the older Kratos confronts his past self in the Viking afterlife.
Judge also revealed that he received an offer not long ago, which might be related to the Valhalla DLC or another project. He firmly refused due to the expectation to match the original voice, considering it a "slight" on the character that Carson brought to life in the original series. With Judge taking such a firm stance on the subject, it leaves the franchise's fan base speculating on his future in the series as the narrative potentially shifts its focus to Kratos' son.
As speculation circles around the future of God of War, fans may have to wait to see if Kratos will be explored further in upcoming projects. While Judge didn't specify what exactly was offered to him when he was pitched to voice young Kratos, some rumours have been circulating about a potential remaster of the original trilogy, as per the XboxEra podcast. As the God of War community eagerly awaits updates, Judge's commitment to making the character his own leaves room for intrigue regarding the next steps in Kratos' epic journey.
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