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After The Success Of 2012, This Brutal Action Hero Finally Returns
The question now is whether the beloved actor will return to reprise his role in the exciting new movie adaptation.
Taika Waititi, known for films like Thor: Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit, is attached to a new adaptation of the iconic British comic series Judge Dredd. Waititi will take on directing duties for this ambitious production.
The script is being written by Drew Pearce, who was previously responsible for screenplays for Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, Iron Man 3, Hotel Artemis, and The Fall Guy.
Waititi and Pearce have been friends for many years and both grew up reading the Judge Dredd comics. They have long been looking for a project to work on together, and this adaptation seems to be the perfect opportunity.
The original comic series was created in the seventies for publisher 2000 AD. The story is set in the dystopian megacity Mega-City One, where officers act as judge, jury, and executioner. Judge Dredd is one of the most feared and respected law enforcers.
The production is backed by a team of experienced names including Chris Kingsley, Jason Kingsley, Ben Smith, Roy Lee, Jeremy Platt, Natalie Viscuso, and Drew Pearce himself. The project is currently actively being pitched to studios and distributors.
Judge Dredd has previously been adapted twice. The first attempt was the large-scale but poorly received film from 1995 starring Sylvester Stallone. In 2012, a second version, Dredd, starring Karl Urban, was released and received much better reviews from critics and fans alike.
The 2012 version was directed by Pete Travis, but it is widely believed that screenwriter Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Annihilation) actually took on much of the directing responsibilities. This film captured the atmosphere of the comics better but did not receive a sequel.
The new film promises to stay closer to the original tone of the comics, with an emphasis on dark satire and extensive world-building. There is even speculation that this project could be the start of a broader franchise.
The script is being written by Drew Pearce, who was previously responsible for screenplays for Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, Iron Man 3, Hotel Artemis, and The Fall Guy.
Friendship As The Foundation For Collaboration
Waititi and Pearce have been friends for many years and both grew up reading the Judge Dredd comics. They have long been looking for a project to work on together, and this adaptation seems to be the perfect opportunity.
The original comic series was created in the seventies for publisher 2000 AD. The story is set in the dystopian megacity Mega-City One, where officers act as judge, jury, and executioner. Judge Dredd is one of the most feared and respected law enforcers.
Strong Production Team And Search For Studio
The production is backed by a team of experienced names including Chris Kingsley, Jason Kingsley, Ben Smith, Roy Lee, Jeremy Platt, Natalie Viscuso, and Drew Pearce himself. The project is currently actively being pitched to studios and distributors.
"I am the law!"
— IGN (@IGN) July 18, 2025
Judge Dredd is headed back to the big screen with Thor: Ragnarok's Taika Waititi directing and Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation's Drew Pearce writing. pic.twitter.com/CM8QUHbqhO
Judge Dredd has previously been adapted twice. The first attempt was the large-scale but poorly received film from 1995 starring Sylvester Stallone. In 2012, a second version, Dredd, starring Karl Urban, was released and received much better reviews from critics and fans alike.
A Second Chance For The Source Material
The 2012 version was directed by Pete Travis, but it is widely believed that screenwriter Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Annihilation) actually took on much of the directing responsibilities. This film captured the atmosphere of the comics better but did not receive a sequel.
The new film promises to stay closer to the original tone of the comics, with an emphasis on dark satire and extensive world-building. There is even speculation that this project could be the start of a broader franchise.
