Taiki Waititi is officially taking overJudge Dredd, and I’m happy this means a cinematic return for the franchise — even if it means my hopes for a sequel to the criminally underratedDreddare finally dead. Judge Dredd has been a hallmark of the alternative comics scene for decades, a satirical pastiche of American brutality from the British anthology magazine2000 A.D.that has gone on to develop his own intricate franchise.This includes two live-action Dredd movies, the critically maligned Sylvester Stallone-ledJudge Dreddand Karl Urban’s take on the character fromDredd.
Despite fans spending over a decade clamoring for a sequel to that film, the filmmakers and stars had moved on to other projects. In the meantime,Taiki Waititi has joined a new reboot of Judge Dredd, suggesting a different tenor for the film after the gritty action ofDredd. While I’m sad we aren’t getting a sequel toDredd, this announcement has me excited for a version ofDreddthat can infuse Waititi’s subversive comedy and deceptive heart into a franchise that always benefits from a touch of camp and hyperbolic comedy.
I Wanted Dredd 2 Too, But At Least We’re Getting The Character Back On Screen
Directed by Pete Travis and written by Alex Garland,Dreddwas a quick cult classic when it was released in 2012 — and I loved it.Karl Urban is pitch-perfect as the titular Judge Dredd, fighting his way through a locked-down apartment complex with enough creative flair to stand out from countless other bullet-filled shoot-em-ups.
Dreddwas gritty but fun, over-the-top but committed to the bit. Unfortunately,Dredddidn’t do well at the box officeand plans for a sequel never materialized. I’ve found some solace in the fact that people like Garland, Urban, and Lena Headey have found other exciting projects, butJudge Dredd is too compelling of a cinematic concept to let lie dormant.
Even if we don’t getDredd 2, the character and his world have so much storytelling potential that it’s just begging to be adapted in a new way. There are so many supporting characters, deadly villains, and major storylines from the original comics that could make for great films.If we’re not gettingDredd 2, we need to move on.
The biggest question coming out of that realization is what direction the new film should take. It could attempt to ape the action aesthetics of the modern genre, or return to the grim and gritty take that defined Travis and Garland’s conception of Dredd’s world. However,a fresh set of eyes and a unique sensibility might be exactly what Dredd needs.
Taika Waititi’s Judge Dredd’s Reboot Has So Much Potential
Taika’s Style Of Satire Could Make This The Most Comics-Accurate Judge Dredd Film
Taika Waititi has defined himself in the current cinematic landscape as capable of threading the needle between cutting social commentary and deadpan goofy comedy. Films likeThor RagnarokandWhat We Do in the Shadowsshowcase what he can do with larger mythologies,a promising sign for anyone taking on Judge Dredd’s sprawling world.
Waititi also has a keen eye for inserting harsh critiques of society into his films.Jojo Rabbitis a sly social commentary that never stops being entertaining, even as it becomes increasingly pessimistic and heartbreaking.That would lend itself well to adapting the more satirical elements of theJudge Dreddcomic stories.
Taika Waititi joiningJudge Dreddsuggests that no matter what direction he takes the character,it’ll be unexpected and decidedly different from what came before. If we’re not going to getDredd 2, then I’d rather have the future of theJudge Dreddfranchise be in those kinds of hands.
