JUDGE DREDD To Start Filming this Fall
Well that was fast. Earlier this week we reported that the Judge Dredd 3D film reboot got itself financing and a director. Now today it's been announced by Reliance BIG Pictures and IM Global that the film being directed by Pete Travis (Vantage Point) will officially start shooting this fall. There's no stopping it now.
I'm actually kind of excited to see Judge Dredd get a new movie. I never liked the first one, and there is a lot of room for improvement. Hopefully this new adaptation of the comic book will be much better. I don't see how it can't be. The script was written by Alex Garland (Sunshine) and the creator of Judge Dredd John Wagner had this to say about it,
The script is faithful to the original concept that made Judge Dredd a favourite bad-ass hero. It’s a high-octane slay ride through the dark underbelly of the vast future city. A fan pleaser. With their track record, I have every faith in Alex Garland, Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich.'
There is hope. Here's the official press release announcing the production start date.
Reliance BIG Pictures, together with IM Global, the international sales company that Reliance acquired only last week, will finance DNA’s 3D production of JUDGE DREDD, a $45 million film adaptation of the iconic 2000 AD comic-book character created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra.
Filming will take place over the fourth quarter of 2010 in Johannesburg.
JUDGE DREDD is being made by the writer/producer partnership behind The Beach, 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later, Sunshine, and Never Let Me Go. Alex Garland, Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich will produce a script written by Garland.
Pete Travis, director of Omagh, Vantage Point, and Endgame will direct. Wagner will be a creative consultant on the film.
DNA has engaged Michael Murphy (District 9) as South African co-producer.
Jason Kingsley and Chris Kingsley, owners of Rebellion/2000 AD, will co-produce.
Said John Wagner: 'Alex Garland’s script is faithful to the original concept that made Judge Dredd a favourite bad-ass hero. It’s a high-octane slay ride through the dark underbelly of the vast future city. A fan pleaser. With their track record, I have every faith in Alex Garland, Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich.'
Said Alex Garland: 'I grew up reading Judge Dredd. The incredible writers and artists of 2000 AD were formative influences on me. Andrew, Allon and I have developed this adaptation of Judge Dredd with an emphasis on adrenaline and realism, but with all the scale and spectacle of Mega-City One. We think Pete’s propulsive, edgy style is a perfect match for the project.'
The deal was negotiated on behalf of Reliance by IM Global CEO Stuart Ford assisted by attorneys Strook and Strook with DNA principals Macdonald and Reich, DNA head of business affairs Jo Smith, and Miles Ketley of Wiggin & Co. Ford’s IM Global will handle international sales on the project.