So, what’s the deal with “Dredd“? The comic reboot has been flying way under the radar pretty much to the point of complete anonymity, which is a bit odd for a film that was tipped for release sometime this year (though with no release date set that’s looking pretty unlikely). The film wrapped a very long time ago and unlike every movie these days which teases with stills and other marketing ephemera before it’s released, there has been pretty much zilch except an early fuzzy look at Karl Urban in his full kit.
Well, another look has hit the web courtesy of Bleeding Cool and it’s not much but it’ll have to do for now. We’re actually intrigued by this project, as it boasts a script by Alex Garland (”28 Days Later,” “Sunshine,” “The Beach”) that is said to be a gritty, R-rated take on the material that falls somewhere between “Die Hard” and “Blade Runner.” Sounds cool right? So where is it? You would think with Comic-Con right around the corner, Lionsgate, who picked up the film last year (and are already bringing “Warrior” to San Diego), would be eager to trot it out to fans to get the buzz building early. But no release date, no news and seemingly no buzz has us wondering if there are some problems surrounding the film or maybe, it’s simply still of the midst of extensive post-production thanks to the 3D shoot.
Co-starring Lena Headey and Olivia Thirlby, the film was directed by Pete Travis and the story finds Dredd pairing up with a trainee judge with psychic powers (Thirlby) to take on Ma-Ma (Headey), the matriarch of a drug gang that deals a reality-altering narcotic known as SLO-MO, and who presides despotically over an enormous apartment block called Peach Trees, in which most of the action is set. Does it sound too far out there? Don’t worry. We’ve read the script and it captures the spirit of the character, with lashings of Paul Verhoeven-style gore and moral ambiguity peppered throughout. If Travis was able to stick to his guns and deliver what was on the page, this will be a superhero flick unlike any other.
A December U.K. release was once slated but with no trailers or anything else in site at this point, 2012 is looking far more likely. Check out Urban looking badass below.