The film is being produced by Chris and Jason Kingsley and Ben Smith of Rebellion Developments, which holds the rights to the Judge Dredd character. Additional producers include Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment, Jeremy Platt, Natalie Viscuso, and Pearce.
Sources say Waititi and Pearce have been longtime fans of 2000 AD, the comic magazine where Judge Dredd originated. Their film adaptation of Dredd is expected to draw more heavily from the original source material, featuring lots of dark humor and satire.
Judge Dredd was created in the late 1970s by writer John Wagner and artist Carlos Ezquerra. Set in the dystopian Mega-City One, the character serves as a law enforcement officer with the authority to act as judge, jury, and executioner.
Previous film adaptations include a 1995 version starring Sylvester Stallone, which received negative reviews, and a 2012 reboot starring Karl Urban and written by Alex Garland (28 Years Later). The latter was praised for its more accurate portrayal of the original comics and became a Certified Fresh fan favorite, due to its dynamic action and deadpan humor.
Details about the new film’s plot remain under wraps, but the project is reportedly being developed as a high-concept sci-fi blockbuster. The team behind it hopes the film will kickstart a larger Dredd franchise, potentially expanding into other films and streaming projects.
