A new Dredd trailer has hit the web today, and immediately came under predictably intense examination by a legion of Comic Book Guys. Reading through the YouTube comments so far, I’ve seen people attack the music (okay, I’ll admit La Roux is an odd choice for this) and atmosphere of the trailer, not to mention the helmet worn by Dredd.
Dredd , of course, is based on 2000 AD character Judge Dredd, one of many futuristic police bods who roam a fictional Earth wrecked by nuclear war. Police in this dystopian world are known as judges, and serve as judge, jury and executioner. A sensitive commentary on police powers and brutality it ain’t.
I’m sure most of us remember Sly Stallone’s 1995 version, Judge Dredd , with little fondness, but this new (British) version takes a darker approach, and seems (to me, anyway) instantly better for it. I don’t even mind the helmet.
The new Dredd stars New Zealand actor Karl Urban as the law enforcement official, and Urban previously promised Movieline the film would avoid the criticisms of the Stallone flop and instead stay true to the original comics:
“I can say that the producers of this film are going to make a very gritty, hardcore, faithful adaptation of the comic. I’ve been reading Dredd in one form or another for 25 years, so to be given the opportunity to portray such an enigmatic, iconic comic book character is one that I’m absolutely elated about.”
The latest trailer debuted today and is embedded below. What do you reckon, Dredd fans? Is this redemption or for everybody’s favorite ultra-violent law enforcement official?
Dredd hits theaters on September 21, 2012.
