Here’s What’s Going On 07/25/2013: Public Outcry for DREDD 2?

Karl Urban is counting on you, civilian!… Gale Anne Hurd preps a retro alien tale… Batman and the Flash compare notes on psychos in JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE FLASHPOINT PARADOX…
From the luxurious Cinefantastique Online studios in NYC, Dan Persons brings you up-to-date on what’s happening in the world of fantastic film & TV.

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Dredd & House at the End of the Street: CFQ Spotlight Podcast 3:38

Dredd-Karl-Urban-2012
Strap yourselves in for another exciting episode of the Cinefantastique Spotlight Podcast – the Podcast with A Sense of Wonder, exploring the best in horror, fantasy and science fiction cinema. This week, filling in for regular host Dan Persons, CFQ Managing Editor Steve Biodrowski joins forces with CFQ San Francisco Bureau Chief Lawrence French to explore the slo-mo 3-D carnage on display in DREDD, starring Karl Urban as the live-action incarnation of the comic book hero.
Is the new DREDD better than the Sylvester Stallone movie? Of course it is (it couldn’t possibly be any worse!) but is that enough to justify the price of a ticket purchase? Can Urban sustain a one-note performance for feature length and make it interesting? Can Dredd’s rookie sidekick (Olivia Thirlby) survive her assessment mission and become a Judge? Listen in and find out!. And after DREDD has cleaned all the scum off the streets, stay tuned while Lawrence French gives the rundown on the horror-thriller HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET.

Dredd 3-D opens on September 21

Lionsgate releases this production, from DNA Films. In a future that has seen America reduced to an irradiated wasteland, Dredd – a combination judge, jury, and executioner – strives to bring law and order to Mega City. Dredd finds himself training a new partner with psychic abilities while facing off against a vicious gang of drug pushers. Cinefantastique was not too thrilled with JUDGE DREDD (1995), starring Sylvester Stallone, but the presence of Garland raises our hopes: we expect good things from the writer of 28 DAYS LATER and SUNSHINE.
Directed by Pete Travis from a screenplay by Alex Garland, based on the comic book character from Carlos Ezquerra and John Wagner. With Karl Urban (STAR TREK) as Dredd, and Olivia Thirlby, Rakie Ayola, Lena Headey.
Release date: September 21, 2012.

Director Booted from 'Dredd' Re-boot?

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Click to Enlarge

According to The LA Times , director Pete Travis (VANTAGE POINT) has been barred from the editing room of  DNA Pictures DREDD, the re-boot of 2000 A.D.’s  Judge Dredd comic book character. 
Unnamed sources apparently have told them that Travis and the producers of the film have had creative differences, beginning with the footage shot during principal photography and reaching the breaking point in the post-production phase.
It seems that writer/producer Alex Garland (28 DAYS LATER) has taken control of the editing, hoping to re-shape it back into what he and  the producers had envisioned.
Reshoots may be necessary, and one might speculate that Garland, who has never directed previously, might step into that role— as there are rumblings that he may seek an unusual “co-director” credit. 
This a  matter that would have to be taken up with the UK Director’s Guild, and  I would guess that simply re-editing another director’s work wouldn’t likely be seen as qualifying as being the co-director.
Such credits tend to make the industry  uncomfortable, even when directors share responsibity during principal photography. 
However, none of this has been officially confirmed (hence our initial hesitance to report this item), but neither has it been refuted by the production. 
The Times article itself mentioned that they were also given conflicting information, stating that Pete Travis IS still attached to the  project, though only consulting via the internet, rather than being physically present in the editing room.
Still, hardly comforting news.
UPDATE: Via the LA TIMES again, Pete Travis and Alex Garland have reportedly issued this statement:

“During all stages of the filmmaking, ‘Dredd’ has been a collaboration between a number of dedicated creative parties.  From the outset we decided on an unorthodox collaboration to make the film.  This situation has been misinterpreted.  
To set the record straight, Pete was not fired and remains a central part of the collaboration, and Alex is not seeking a co-director credit.  We are all extremely proud of the film we have made, and respectfully suggest that it is judged on viewing when its released next year.”

Lena Headey Villain of 'DREDD'

 

Lena Headey as SARAH CONNOR
Lena Headey as SARAH CONNOR

 IndieWire  says it’s confirmed that Lena Headey (TERMINATOR TV series) has been cast as the female villain in the Judge Dredd movie DREDD.

 
The character is Madeline Madrigal, aka drug dealing gang leader ‘Ma-Ma’, who according to script leaks plans to kill all the street judges. The version of the script that circulated is said to have described the villainess as 50-60 years old, scarred and extremely overweight, not exactly type-casting for the attractive Headey.
 
The Lionsgate / DNA Films production is under production in South Africa, starring Karl Urban (STAR TREK) as Judge Dredd, and Olivia Thirlby as Judge Anderson.
 
Pete Travis (ENDGAME) directs, from a screenplay by Alex Garland (28 DAYS LATER).

1st Look at Karl Urban as 'DREDD'

Moviephone featured this picture of Karl Urban (STAR TREK) as Judge Dredd in the new movie adaptation of the comic, DREDD.
(Slightly tweaked for contrast, here.)

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Click to Enlarge

The picture was apparently taken in a pre-production rehearsal by “Jock”, a comic book artist working a conceptual artist for the Pete Travis (VANTAGE POINT)-directed film.
The character was first played by Sylvester Stallone in the 1995 JUDGE DREDD, which looked good from a visual standpoint, but disappointed in many other aspects.

Lionsgate Picks up 'DREDD'

Dredd_Anderson_thrillVariety reports that Lionsgate has made a deal to distrubute three action films from IM Global in the U.S. One of these films is DREDD, the new live-action version of the Judge Dredd sci-fi police comic book. 
In addition to DREDD, to be directed by Pete Travis and starring Karl Urban (STAR TREK), the deal includes SAFE, currently in production under Boaz Yakin, and starring Jason Statham (CRANK 2). The other film is PROTECTION, to be directed by Simon West.