Seems the rumour wheels are a spinning and with the plotted fall filming of the Judge Dredd reboot, its about time they actually cast a Judge Dredd. And it appears that the job has been offered to Karl Urban, who is quietly becoming huge in a lot of small ways.
Pete Travis is scheduled to direct the $50 million movie this fall, so they do need to start casting soon – and Urban definitely has the build and acting chops to play the gritty anti-hero.
According to Bleeding Cool, one major contract provision is that Dredd will not take off his helmet – the entire film. Considering Urban isn’t a huge star, though he’s been in plenty of huge franchises, there’s a good chance he’ll be fine playing a helmeted-Dredd (unlike the 1995 Sylvester Stallone film).
Now $50million is a seriously low budget for a flick like this, and I wonder exactly what we might see come of this.
It can’t be worse than the Stallone version right?
In the original comics, Dredd was never seen without his helmet and it added to the mystery that was the character. I can understand why they would want to remove the helmet to humanize the character, but if this is a requirement of the character, does it matter if they get a name to play him? Maybe get a talented nobody that will cost half as much to cast?
The role was offered to Urban, but he isn’t reported as taking it yet, and with Star Trek filming early 2011, and this slated to film in a couple months he would already have to have his schedule open between here and there.
If there is a scheduling conflict between this and Star Trek, I could make some easy wagers on which way he will go.
as long as it has “Sir Rob” in it I’m cool-ha
I agree that the schedule would have a lot to do with Star Trek’s schedule. However, I think Urban would shoot it down even if there was no Trek sequel. Even if he caught hell from ST co-star Simon Pegg for turning it down.
The idea, as described above, is that Dredd would not take off his helmet (at least on screen facing forward) would not bode well for most actors. Everyone wants a closeup, so to speak. Another problem is the way things sound (and I could be wrong here) if this report is true, and that’s EXACTLY what was said by the filmmakers/producers, then it suggests that they are relying on whatever fanbase is out there for Dredd and/or 2000 AD. Dredd/2000 AD may have that- but is it that huge?
If Urban turns it down and names don’t matter, I want them to either consider Dylan McDermott (yes, Dylan McDermott- for a very good reason) or maybe Ted DiBiase Jr. I mean if names really don’t mean anything.
Why Dylan McDermott. you ask me? Well, think the irony if he was Dredd. Then think 1990’s HardWare and its unfortunate ties to 2000AD. I prefer Jason Statham, but hey, if it doesn’t matter…
I like the concept of Judge Dredd. I haven’t seen the original yet, but I’m pretty forgIving when it comes
to watching a film that apparently everyone hates.
I’ll get back to you, but I’m looking forward to this.