Karl Urban In Talks To Return As Judge Dredd In ‘Mega City One’ TV Series
For Judge Dredd fans, this is the news we all wanted to hear. Karl Urban may be about to return to the role he played in the brilliant 2012 movie version, but this time on the small screen.
As we mentioned back in May, IM Global Television and U.K. games developer/publisher Rebellion are currently developing a live-action tv series called ‘Judge Dredd: Mega City One.’ Although Dredd will be a major part of the show, it will also feature a team of Judges as they deal with the challenges policing the crowded and crime-ridden megalopolis of Mega City One.
Ever since the series was announced, there has been talk of whether Urban would return to the role, as he had expressed an interest in continuing the character. Now he’s finally commented during a panel during the Star Trek Las Vegas convention, saying “I am in discussions with them about that. I told them that if they write the material and give Dredd something to do and give him a function, I will be there. I would love to.”
Whilst the 2012 film was a massive hit with fans, it didn’t do so well at the box office, but tv seems a much better fit for the franchise… if it can land on the right network. The idea of a gritty police procedural set in Dredd’s dystopian future seems like a win for everyone involved. “Dark fantasy elements are one area that would be great to explore,” commented franchise producer Jason Kingsley. “The show will combine the macabre with the insane and the light-hearted. It’s a big place, after all, with 400 million stories to tell.” Given the visceral nature of the subject matter, that probably rules out most US network tv, but would fit perfectly on to a cable channel or streaming service like HBO, Starz, Netflix or Amazon.
‘Judge Dredd: Mega City One’ is still in early development at the moment, and they are saying it’s likely to be around 2 years away from hitting a tv screen. For us though, It can’t come fast enough!
