Actor Christopher Judge, known for his role as Kratos in God of War, shares that this work has significantly shifted his outlook on life and the essence of masculinity.
Actor Christopher Judge, who portrayed Kratos in the hit God of War series, has discussed the profound impact the production's work environment had on him during a recent cast panel marking the game's 20th anniversary. Revealing that he was struck by the absence of hierarchy on the Santa Monica Studio set, Judge spoke about the collective atmosphere that changed his perspective on the world.
Comparing the God of War mocap set experience to previous roles, Judge noted that often, there was a strict on-set hierarchy. However, he pointed out that "there was no hierarchy" on the God of War set, adding that "everyone treated each other with respect, and talked to each other like adults." Even the game's director, Cory Barlog, was highlighted as being receptive to team members' creative input, according to Judge.
Judge poignantly elaborated on the value of this experience for him personally, admitting that he was going through a difficult time in life when he joined the series. Similar to his character's origins, Judge had stopped drinking and entered counseling after receiving two DUIs. Through his therapy, he said he came to understand "that it's not about squashing people, keeping people down." Instead, he realized "it's about empowering people, listening to people, and making them feel heard."
The God of War set was the first place Judge ever saw this dynamic in practice, he noted. He pointed out that every morning, it seemed as if everyone wanted to be there, there was no complaining, and the team was united in their support of one another. The atmosphere of love, nurturing, and care on the set radically transformed Judge's perspective, he admitted, leading him to rethink what it truly means to be a man.
- In a recent panel, Christopher Judge, known for his role as Kratos in God of War, expressed that the show's work environment greatly impacted him, particularly the absence of hierarchy on the Santa Monica Studio set.
- Judge contrasted this with his past experiences, where strict on-set hierarchies were common, but on God of War, everyone treated each other with respect and as equals.
- Notably, the director, Cory Barlog, was open to team members' creative input, according to Judge.
- Judge found personal value in this experience, as he was going through a tough time in life when he joined the series, having stopped drinking and entered counseling after receiving two DUIs.
- Through his therapy, Judge discovered the importance of empowering people, listening to them, and making them feel heard, rather than suppressing or domineering others.
- The dynamic on the God of War set, which prioritized love, nurturing, and care, was the first of its kind that Judge had seen in practice.
- As a result, the enlightening atmosphere on the God of War set changed Judge's perspective on what it means to be a man and inspired him, reminding him of the entertainment industry's potential to foster healthy relationships and respectful work environments, not just in games but also in movies, TV, and the broader world of console-based RPG, action, adventure, and other genres like reviews, deals, and entertainment.
