Lionsgate has released a new clip for its upcoming dystopian police thriller.
Dredd is based on Judge Dredd, a comic book line depicting a dystopian future in which the police have become the ultimate authorities in criminal matters. Population is so dense, and crime so rampant that punishment for nearly any crime is death, and the “Judges” are responsible for doling out “justice” immediately and with no formal trial.
This clip offers us a glimpse at the inciting event of the film. Dredd and his trainee have just finished dealing with a criminal in the slums, and the crime boss of the building (they’re more like arcologies), locks the place down in an effort to get her man back.
It’s important to note here that Dredd does not want this conflict. More like the comics character – and less like the Stalone version – this Dredd judges because he has to, not because he arrogantly seeks conflict. He’d the best Judge due to skill, not bravado, that’s why he’s been given the rookie to train.
Dredd kicked off as an anti-hero comics character with a deep mythology, and a hardcore social message, but the Stalone film did the concept little credit, turning it into a pure action flick. There are so many franchises which, when adapted into action films during the 80’s and 90’s, were taken too far from their original themes and attitudes, and even modified the charcters, making them all a little shallower, and almost all revenge driven. Personally, I blame Rambo. The new film is intended to adopt a more source-accurate look at the story and character.
The official synopsis is thus:
The future America is an irradiated waste land. On its East Coast, running from Boston to Washington DC, lies Mega City One- a vast, violent metropolis where criminals rule the chaotic streets. The only force of order lies with the urban cops called “Judges” who possess the combined powers of judge, jury and instant executioner. Known and feared throughout the city, Dredd (Karl Urban) is the ultimate Judge, challenged with ridding the city of its latest scourge – a dangerous drug epidemic that has users of “Slo-Mo” experiencing reality at a fraction of its normal speed.
During a routine day on the job, Dredd is assigned to train and evaluate Cassandra Anderson (Olivia Thirlby), a rookie with powerful psychic abilities thanks to a genetic mutation. A heinous crime calls them to a neighborhood where fellow Judges rarely dare to venture- a 200 story vertical slum controlled by prostitute turned drug lord Ma-Ma (Lena Headey) and her ruthless clan. When they capture one of the clan’s inner circle, Ma-Ma overtakes the compound’s control center and wages a dirty, vicious war against the Judges that proves she will stop at nothing to protect her empire. With the body count climbing and no way out, Dredd and Anderson must confront the odds and engage in the relentless battle for their survival.
And here’s the theatrical trailer:
Dredd hits theaters on September 21, 2012.
