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.”