Summary
- A new Judge Dredd movie is on the way, but it won't follow Karl Urban's 2012 Dredd.
- Taika Waititi, known for films like What We Do in the Shadows and Thor: Ragnarok, will direct a new Judge Dredd movie.
- Judge Dredd may be more violent and less humorous than most of Waititi's work.
A new Judge Dredd movie is heading to theaters with an unlikely director attached. Judge Dredd is a character that originated in the comic book series 2000 AD, but has since transcended the sci-fi series. Beyond getting his own series, the character gained notoriety, crossing over with other properties, including Batman, Predator, and RoboCop.
Sylvester Stallone famously starred in the critically panned 1995 Judge Dredd film. The movie suffered from numerous issues, but many felt it strayed too far from the character, playing into Stallone's strengths rather than Dredd's. The character was brought back for another film adaptation in 2012, with Karl Urban taking on the title role in Dredd. The lauded writer behind 28 Days Later, Annihilation, and the upcoming Elden Ring movie, Alex Garland, penned Dredd, with many saying behind-the-scenes turmoil led to him "ghost directing" when problems arose with Pete Travis. Despite the issues, Dredd was praised for a closer adherence to the lore of the comics, with Urban's performance capturing the essence of the character while never removing his helmet. Fans may be disappointed, as many have been holding out hope of a follow-up to Urban's film, but the character will be heading back to theaters.
As reported by THR, Taika Waititi has been tapped to direct a new adaptation of Judge Dredd. Waititi is known for films like Thor: Ragnarok, Jojo Rabbit, and Hunt for the Wilderpeople, which allowed the writer and director to play into his emotional and humorous stylings. Judge Dredd may be on the more violent side than the director is known for, but it is said that he is a big fan of the comics, along with his friend and writer, Drew Pearce, who will be penning the script. Pearce has previously worked on scripts for Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation and Fall Guy.
Taika Waititi Has Surprised Before, And He Can Do It Again With Judge Dredd
Readers of Judge Dredd comics and fans of past film adaptations know that violence plays a big part in the series. Waititi is best known for his emotional dramas and comedic talents, garnering fame with movies like What We Do in the Shadows and Boy. However, many thought the director was out of his depth when Marvel tapped him for Thor.
Thor: Ragnarok boasts a bigger budget than the director had worked with before, and it was even a character he was more unfamiliar with than Judge Dredd. Waititi still delivered Thor: Ragnarok, which many fans praise as one of Marvel's best. He may have upset some with Love and Thunder, but he has more than proven he can handle big-name characters and action. He'll just need to turn up the blood and tone down the humor. However, Judge Dredd is a character that works well with darker humor, which the director could easily bring to life. Waititi's Judge Dredd adaptation is still a ways off, but further details will be forthcoming as the project develops.
Judge Dredd TV Series on Hold Due to Pandemic
A long awaited follow up to 2012's Dredd is in development but has had to be put on hold due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: THR