Lionsgate has posted a new featurette for its upcoming dystopian police thriller, Dredd.
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 executions without a formal trial.
This new featurette takes a closer look at the themes of the film, providing us with cast and crew interviews, including Karl Urban discussing the title character.
In addition, another clip depicts a brief scene (also shown partially in the featurette above), in which Dredd utters his most iconic line, especially made part of our culture by Stalone’s delivery of it:
Here the line is said much more seriously, less like a call to arms, and more like a statement of warning, which improves its appeal and its impact.
In a semi-related bit of Dredd news, the writer/producer of the film, Alex Garland has come out in support of turning the film into a television serial, citing the success of Game of Thrones as proof that audiences are looking for more high-production value, adult-themed entertainment on television.
“Just so it has been said,” Garland said in response to a fan question on the forums for 2000 AD, “I actually think that maybe the best way forward for Dredd is television. American TV has completely rewritten the rule book where filmed drama is concerned. Game Of Thrones/The Wire/Breaking Bad…An equivalent version of Dredd would be fucking great… Imagine the epics…”
I admit. I would love to see a super hero serial which is more adult oriented on television. I’ve been hoping for FX’s upcoming Powers show to fill that niche, but who knows if it will ever emerge from its protracted development.
The official synopsis of the film 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 September 21, 2012.
