Drokk!! JUDGE DREDD: MEGA-CITY ONE is blasting on to the small screen

I didn’t see this coming. Did you see this coming? I did NOT see this coming!

Rebellion, the company that owns 2000AD – and, by extension, the character of future lawman Judge Dredd – have announced that they are following in the footsteps of companies such as Marvel in reclaiming creative control of their properties and producing a series called JUDGE DREDD: MEGA-CITY ONE, in-house.

Rebellion have been incredibly aggressive in marketing and getting the word out about the 2000AD brands, especially in the States, which has lead to a leaner and more capable company. This means that they now have the nous and capabilities to produce a Dredd series – on their own terms.

Producer Brian Jenkins, formerly of Naughty Monkey Films, is a new addition to the Rebellion team (and, indeed, to the JUDGE DREDD universe) but, in the announcement video, seems to be very much revved up to bring a version of Dredd that is more in line with the legacy imbued by the artists and writers of the character on the comic page, since 1977.

He and Rebellion CEO’s Jason Kingsley are also driven to guide those sensibilities through the aesthetic and grit of the 2010 DREDD film, directed by Pete Travis and starring Karl Urban as the man behind the badge – no word yet on who is going to be cast as Dredd but fans are already screaming for his return to the role.

@2000AD @EW Awesome news. My requests: Urban as Dredd, bring on the Dark Judges, don't sanitise the material, be Zarjaz!

— Nick Joy (@nickjjoy) May 10, 2017

https://twitter.com/JenLawliet/status/862365755043708928

https://twitter.com/jnrstoko/status/862362713288310784

Hey, if the helmet fits…

No word yet on which station will be up for picking this up, but the boys admit, they’re nowhere near that stage yet – they only just put a writing team in place, with nothing yet in terms of cast or crew. However, both Jenkins and Kingsley have said that the show will feature an ensemble cast, making up a character roster of both fan favourites and new additions to the lore.

Walter The Robot, guys. That’s all I’m saying.

From the Rebellion press release:

The world of Judge Dredd is coming to TV screens thanks to a deal struck between leading independent entertainment studio IM Global and independent UK games developer and publisher Rebellion.

The deal will see development begin on JUDGE DREDD: MEGA-CITY ONE, a high-end TV series based on the globally-famous character from the pages of legendary British comic book 2000 AD, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

Set in a future where east coast America has become a crowded and crime-ridden megalopolis, the show will be an ensemble drama about a team of Judges – futuristic cops invested with the power to be judge, jury, and executioner – as they deal with the challenges the future-shocked 22nd Century throws at them.

Early development has begun on the show, and talent will be announced at a later date.

Attached to the production as Executive Producers are President of IM Global Television, Mark Stern, who developed critically-acclaimed series BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, HELIX, and DEFIANCE at Syfy, IM Global Television CEO Stuart Ford, and the owners of Rebellion, Jason and Chris Kingsley, who along with Ford, were also executive producers on the 2012 DREDD feature film adaptation from DNA Films, Reliance Entertainment and IM Global.