News Judge Dredd: Mega City One: IN DEVELOPMENT

[Doctor Omega]

The other day came comments from Karl Urban that he’s had discussions with the makers of the upcoming “Judge Dredd: Mega City One” TV series to reprise the titular role he played in 2012’s “Dredd”.

Now, series producer Jason Kingsley has released a statement to IGN about the matter along with two new pieces of concept art. Kingsley says:

“We have been in discussions with Karl about his possible involvement in Judge Dredd: Mega-City One for some time. These conversations continue but we’re keen, he’s keen – it’s just a case of us making sure this show is everything we want it to be.

This needs to be done right – the fans deserve it. Our team is working hard on scripts for the first season, creating engaging multi-thread storylines, one of which will be Dredd’s but others which take us into the wider world of Mega-City One.”

The ensemble drama follows a team of Judges – futuristic cops invested with the power to be judge, jury, and executioner – as they encounter the myriad challenges of a world in which east-coast cities have merged into a giant megalopolis.

Despite the 22nd century setting, the issues will be familiar ones of the dangers of domestic terrorism to the tensions due to economic disparity.

 

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[Doctor Omega]

10 MAY 2017
JUDGE DREDD: MEGA-CITY ONE FANS – THE WAIT IS ALMOST OVER!
Los Angeles CA - The world of Judge Dredd is coming to TV screens thanks to a deal struck between leading independent entertainment studio IM Global and independent UK games developer and publisher Rebellion.

The deal will see development begin on a high-end TV series based on the globally-famous character from the pages of legendary British comic book 2000 AD, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

Judge Dredd: Mega-City One is set in a future where east coast America has become a crowded and crime-ridden megalopolis. It will be an ensemble drama about a team of Judges – futuristic cops invested with the power to be judge, jury, and executioner – as they deal with the challenges the future-shocked 22nd Century throws at them.

Attached as Executive Producers are President of IM Global Television, Mark Stern, who developed critically-acclaimed series Battlestar Galactica, Helix, and Defiance at Syfy, IM Global Television CEO Stuart Ford, and the owners of Rebellion, Jason and Chris Kingsley, who along with Ford, were also executive producers on the 2012 DREDD feature film adaptation from DNA Films, Reliance Entertainment and IM Global.

Early development has begun on the show, and talent will be announced at a later date.

Stern said, “This is one of those seminal sci-fi properties that seems to only become and more relevant with age. Not only is it a rich world with biting social commentary, but it’s also fun as hell! As a fan of the comics and both films, it’s a dream come true to be able to work with Jason and Chris in adapting this for television.”

Jason and Chris Kingsley said: “We’re very excited to be beginning the journey to get more of Judge Dredd’s Mega-City One on the television screen. Thanks to the legions of fans who have kept up pressure on social media, and a lot of background work and enthusiasm, we aim to make a big budget production that will satisfy both our vast comics audience and the even greater general screen-watching public.”

Judge Dredd was created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra in 1977 and is Britain’s biggest comic export. Running for 40 years, the cream of comics writers and artists have worked on the series – including Mark Millar (Kick Ass, Wanted), Grant Morrison (All Star Superman, WE3), Garth Ennis (Preacher), Jock (DREDD,Ex Machina), Mick McMahon (Freakshift) – with its mix of high-octane action, black comedy, and extreme political satire. The 2012 movie DREDD, starring Karl Urban and Olivia Thirlby, has become a cult hit since its release and a massive fan-run campaign has regularly seen the film hit the top of Amazon’s DVD and Blu-Ray charts!

 

[Doctor Omega]

Urban On Potential “Dredd” Return & Series Plans





Appearing at the Trekonderoga convention over the holiday weekend, actor Karl Urban briefly spoke about other franchises he’s been involved in – namely Judge Dredd.

Urban starred as the iconic 2000AD comics character in 2012’s “Dredd” which was a box-office fizzer but scored solid critical reaction and has since found a loyal cult audience. Urban made headlines earlier this year when he suggested that the film’s screenwriter Alex Garland (“Ex Machina,” “Annihilation”) was the one who effectively directed the movie and not credited director Pete Travis who was ultimately sidelined.

Today he’s spoken some more about the franchise and specifically the upcoming event TV series “Judge Dredd: Mega City One” which has been in development for several years. Urban says he’s had many serious discussions about being involved, but he’s still waiting on seeing if the series comes together:

“I’m not attached to it, although I did have a preliminary round of conversations with them. I am interested in doing it. There are a lot of great stories to tell there. It is up to them. I don’t know really where they are in the stages of development. If I get the opportunity, great, otherwise some else will do it, and we can all see some more Judge Dredd.”

More interesting though is Urban also revealed some basic details about how the series is structured in terms of character and plot and how Dredd would fit into the action:

“Their idea for Mega-City One is was basically to build the show around more rookie judges and young, new judges and Dredd would come in and out and I said that I’ll do it, but it has to be done in a meaningful way. I can’t just come on and grunt and pull faces, there has to be a story there for him. There has to be a kind of little arc and a story we are trying to tell. So, we will see what they do.”

“Judge Dredd: Mega City One” has not yet set production or air dates. Urban has previously expressed interest in a film sequel to “Dredd” as well but there’s been no progress on that front.

 

[Doctor Omega]

Judge Dredd: Mega City One TV Series Pilot Script COMPLETE