Perhaps the zero-tolerance lawman will make more sense now than he did in 1995...

An official press release has come to light with more details of the DNA cinematic version of Judge Dredd announced over a year ago - the money seems finally to have joined up with the distribution:

Reliance BIG Pictures, together with IM Global, the international sales company that Reliance acquired only last week, will finance DNA’s 3D production of JUDGE DREDD, a $45 million film adaptation of the iconic 2000 AD comic-book character created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra.

Filming will take place over the fourth quarter of 2010 in Johannesburg.

JUDGE DREDD is being made by the writer/producer partnership behind The Beach, 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later, Sunshine, and Never Let Me Go. Alex Garland, Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich will produce a script written by Garland.

Pete Travis, director of Omagh, Vantage Point, and Endgame will direct. Wagner will be a creative consultant on the film.

DNA has engaged Michael Murphy (District 9) as South African co-producer.

Jason Kingsley and Chris Kingsley, owners of Rebellion/2000 AD, will co-produce.

Said John Wagner: 'Alex Garland’s script is faithful to the original concept that made Judge Dredd a favourite bad-ass hero. It’s a high-octane slay ride through the dark underbelly of the vast future city. A fan pleaser. With their track record, I have every faith in Alex Garland, Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich.'

Said Alex Garland: 'I grew up reading Judge Dredd. The incredible writers and artists of 2000 AD were formative influences on me. Andrew, Allon and I have developed this adaptation of Judge Dredd with an emphasis on adrenaline and realism, but with all the scale and spectacle of Mega-City One. We think Pete’s propulsive, edgy style is a perfect match for the project.'

The deal was negotiated on behalf of Reliance by IM Global CEO Stuart Ford assisted by attorneys Strook and Strook with DNA principals Macdonald and Reich, DNA head of business affairs Jo Smith, and Miles Ketley of Wiggin & Co. Ford’s IM Global will handle international sales on the project.

The 1995 Danny Cannon adaptation of Mega-City One's most ruthless proponent of the law opened to an almost universally negative reaction, despite (or, it's often argued, because of) extraordinary visual fidelity to the Ezquerra megalopolis concepts.

But while the 1990s were a pretty easy decade to get an SF film made, the satiric tone of Judge Dredd had already been sequestered by screenwriter Edward Neumeier for Robocop (something the writer has admitted), and the 'zero-tolerance' aspect of Mega City One will have a hell of a lot more cultural relevance now than it had fifteen years ago in the more pacific Clinton era.

No word yet as to whether new Dredd will be filming stereoscopic or 'posting'.

Coming Soon

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS ARTICLE, PLEASE HELP SUPPORT OUR SITE, AT NO COST WITH ONE CLICK ON THE FACEBOOK 'LIKE' BUTTON BELOW: