Writer of 28 Days Later Tackles Judge Dredd Reboot
Late last year we heard that a new Judge Dredd movie was in development, and that it would not be a sequel but rather a fresh start to the comic book-based film franchise. Considering that the first Judge Dredd movie was a failure both critically and commercially, this seemed like a wise choice. At the time there was no word on who might be involved in this reboot, only that UK production company DNA Films was working with original publisher 2000 AD on it.
Now this week it appears that a screenwriter has been set for the project, and it’s someone who might be able to spark some interest from genre fans. According to the MTV Movies Blog, Alex Garland of 28 Days Later and Sunshine fame has penned the script. The report comes via the Twitter account of comic book artist Mark Simpson aka Jock, who is working on concept art for the film. Garland’s involvement makes a lot of sense considering that DNA Films is the same production company behind 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later and Sunshine, and it certainly makes me think this Judge Dredd reboot could actually be decent. Here’s the big question though… does this mean Danny Boyle might come on board to direct? We can only hope.
Comments (3)
Boyle does seem to be directing a completely different movie with every go, so it doesn’t sound impossible that after the melodramatic Slumdog he’d go for a superhero blockbuster. Just can’t see who would replace Sly in that role, he just was the perfect Dredd
Posted by AlexG on September 10th, 2009I say do it! look at the last “film” it look’s like ASS.
Posted by Machete on September 11th, 2009Whoah Alex G, Dredd is not a superhero, superheroes are despised and ridiculed by Dredd’s creator/writer John Wagner. Dredd is black humor and satire, that’s right up my alley, but it’s probably a hard sell to a mainstream audience. If done correctly Dredd could be as big as Star Wars was when it premiered, the key would be to focus on the city and it’s inhabitants, Dredd is basically a human robot and he can’t be fleshed out or made sympathetic, he also never removes the helmet to keep himeslf distant from the audience/reader. Sure Dredd is possibly the ultimate action hero, in the Apocalypse War storyline he shoots himself in the heart to fake his death and then nukes all of Russia with their own bombs in retaliation for their stike on Mega City 1. He’s a bit similiar to the Master Chief character in the Halo games, but I don’t think the Chief has yet to launch nukes on his foes.
Posted by Duke Togo on September 14th, 2009Leave a Reply