It’s been a summer of big movie remakes such as The Dark Knight and The Amazing Spider-Man, but another has slipped into the schedules almost unnoticed. Dredd is a remake of the much-derided 1995 film Judge Dredd, which starred Sylvester Stallone. But more importantly, both films are based on a series of British comics called 2000AD. The Judge in the comics is an American law enforcement officer in a futuristic city called Mega-City One. Mob rule threatens to take over and Dredd and his fellow Judges arrest, sentence, and even execute criminals on the spot. They are judge, jury and executioner.
Dredd has starred in the graphic novels since 1977, where he co-starred alongside one of the most legendary comic book heroes of all time: Dan Dare.
Audiences didn’t take to 2000AD’s version of Dare, but they couldn’t get enough of Dredd’s very unique style of justice. Dare was regarded as too old fashioned whereas the Judge was radical and unique, not unlike the music most of his readers were listening to at the time: punk.
‘I saw him as partly the hero, but more so the villain,’ said John Wagner, Dredd’s co-creator. ‘He shouldn’t be a nice guy. He shouldn’t be heroic. Some things he does will be classed as heroic, but overall – no.’
Dredd gained an even bigger audience in 1991 with the release of the best-selling Dredd/Batman crossover comic Judgement on Gotham. But fans were aghast (and laughing during test screenings) at Stallone’s version in the 1990s. Not only was the film badly received, the makers felt the wrath of the fanboys because Sly’s Dredd takes off his helmet – something the character never did in the comics.
Thankfully, much more is expected of the new version, which is released later this month in Abu Dhabi. But it wasn’t plain sailing for the movie makers. Rumours surfaced for demands of reshoots and there were claims director Pete Travis (who also directed 2008’s Vantage Point and 2009’s Endgame) had argued with writer Alex Garland (who wrote The Beach, 28 Days Later and Sunshine) and was locked out of the editing suite, forcing Garland to release a press releasing claiming the two had not fallen out. ‘During all stages of the filmmaking, Dredd has been a collaboration between a number of dedicated creative parties. From the outset we decided on an unorthodox collaboration to make the film. This situation has been misinterpreted. To set the record straight, Pete was not fired and remains a central part of the collaboration and Alex is
not seeking a co-director credit.
We are all extremely proud of the film we have made and respectfully suggest that it is judged on viewing when it’s released.’
So now is the time to judge the remake ourselves, which stars Karl Urban as the Judge (Bones in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot) and Garland has promised fanboys it’ll be faithful to the comics. ‘I read the 2000AD message board throughout the production,’ he said. ‘I always felt they were on our side.’
Everyone loves Dredd
Hollywood actor Simon Pegg, star of the Mission Impossible and Star Trek films, is such a fan, he featured Dredd memorabilia in several episodes of his UK sitcom Spaced.
Several bands have released songs in tribute to the officer of the law, including Madness, The Human League and metallers Anthrax.
Dredd is referenced many times in the US sitcom Scrubs.
He was satirized by Marvel Comics, who combined the lawman with Looney Tunes character Elmer Fudd to create Judge Elmer Dwedd.
Even a rapper is named Judge Dredd. He has appeared on Chamillionaire’s Greatest Hits Mixtape album.
The UK’s Royal Mail launched a special stamp collection this year to celebrate Britain’s comic book history, which included 2000AD.
