In honor of ol’ Stony Face’s return to Cinema, I decided to envision 5 decades bringing together filmmakers and setting them in Decades where they could’ve made the best possible Dredd Films of their respective decades. Now I am certainly not saying any of this would have been better then Lionsgate/DNA’S upcoming feature “DREDD” This is just a look at the alternatives that could have been, as a way of celebrating Dredd’s glorious return to Cinema. I have chosen carefully 5 Sets of Filmmakers that for their time would have been able to capture the fit, feel, look, and heart of Dredd and his merry cast of Mega City One’s heroes and villains.
Each Film having been based on an arc from Dredd’s adventures, while some alterations would be made to some to include a larger cast and other, more character driven stories, would feature fewer big plot characters outside the random creeps unlucky enough to stumble across Dredd. Each story was specifically selected for the film crew working on each decade. Something to allow veriety but also stick to what type of Dredd story those particular filmmakers might tell. I also use villains from the Dredd series, but keeping to a rule that each decade gets a separate villain, This is the 5 Decades of Judge Dredd, not the 5 Decades of Judge Death or the 5 Decades of Rico here.
The decades themselves span from Dredd’s violent 70’s escipades from which he began, to the ever modern 2010’s the decade where we are privileged to a proper Dredd Reboot, while the golden rule of this cast is to ignore that the Stallone Movie was ever put into production, it also side steps the current Dredd film with my own chosen cast and crew for the 2010’s, all this in a fun way of celebrating the character, his upcoming movie, and his impact on comics worldwide.
Well let’s start, shall we? With the Decade that started it all…
Synopsis: The Cursed Earth was the writers' take on the basic plot of Roger Zelazny's Damnation Alley: Dredd undertakes an epic journey across the deserts of the Cursed Earth, transporting the vaccine for the deadly 2T(Fru)T virus that is devastating Mega-City Two's population.
Producer - A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to the film studio or other financing entity, while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed. Many film producers also have competency in other fields (directors, screenwriters, actors) but that is not always the case. The producer is often actively involved throughout all major phases of the filmmaking process, from inception and development to completion and delivery of a film project. However, an idea or concept for a film can originate with any individual, including a screenwriter, a director or a producer.
Roger Corman (Producer: Death Race 2000, Machine Gun Kelly): This is without a doubt a perfect project for Roger Corman, Judge Dredd and his ensemble fit the style of films Corman has Produced and Directed. Not to mention Corman’s Money Placement in projects the storyline featuring the Cursed Earth might have been the best fit for Cormon’s crew. Had anyone been seriously talking about a Judge Dredd Film in the 1970’s Corman would definitely have had his hands in on it.
Composer- A film score (also sometimes called background music or incidental music) is original music written specifically to accompany a film. The score forms part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects, and comprises a number of orchestral, instrumental or choral pieces called cues which are timed to begin and end at specific points during the film in order to enhance the dramatic narrative and the emotional impact of the scene in question. Scores are written by one or more composers, under the guidance of the film's director and/or producer, and are then usually performed by an ensemble of musicians – most often comprising an orchestra or band, instrumental soloists, and choir or vocalists – and recorded by a sound engineer.
Ennio Morricone (Composer: Dollars Trilogy, The Battle of Algiers): Ennio has a unique style in his form of music. It harkens to the situation and the characters. He is an artist with music and he really adapts it well to My 70’s Dredd Choice.
Director - Directors are responsible for overseeing creative aspects of a film under the overall control of the film producer. They often develop the vision for a film and carry out the vision, deciding how the film should look, in other words they make their vision come to life. They are responsible for turning the script into a sequence of shots. They also direct what tone it should have and what an audience should gain from the cinematic experience. Film directors are responsible for deciding camera angles, lens effects and lighting with the help of the cinematographer and set design with the production designer. They will often take part in hiring the cast and key crew members. They coordinate the actors' moves, or blocking and also may be involved in the writing, financing and editing of a film.
Paul Bartel (Director: Death Race 2000): Death Race 2000 is a cult classic, and one of my favorite movies. The setting of it is a Dysotypian future with a serious population control, the setting of the Movie bares few resemblances to the world of the famous Lawman. Paul Bartel treated the material as it should be, humor, action fueled, sleazy, horror cascade of story. In so many ways his work as a film director actually fits the style of Dredd Stories in the 70’s.
Screenwriter - Screenwriters are responsible for researching the story, developing the narrative, writing the screenplay, and delivering it, in the required format, to Development Executives. Screenwriters therefore have great influence over the creative direction and emotional impact of the screenplay and, arguably, of the finished film. They either pitch original ideas to Producers in the hope that they will be optioned or sold, or screenwriters are commissioned by a producer to create a screenplay from a concept, true story, existing screen work or literary work, such as a novel, poem, play, comic book or short story.
Charles B. Griffith (Screenwriter: Death Race 2000): One of two Screenwriters behind Cormon’s Death Race 2000. As a writer he just fits the character and story. Death Race 2000 is in some way a perfect setting to the Judge Dredd Character and Charles knows how to keep his work witty, interesting, intellectually engaging in some formats, heavy action and gore and overall just enjoyable.
Judge Joseph Dredd: Judge Joseph Dredd is the titular character of the Judge Dredd universe. Judge Dredd is a clone of the "Father of Justice" Eustace T. Fargo , and is the most feared, respected, and widely known of all the Judges. Judge Dredd first appeared in Prog 2 of 2000AD and is the longest running character therein, having appeared in all but a handful of Progs. Judge Dredd is a Senior Street Judge, and since 2132 a member of the Council of Five the ruling body of the Justice Department of Mega City One.
Clint Eastwood (Height: 6’4”, Age: 48 (As of 1978) Notable Works: Dollars Trilogy, Dirty Harry): John Wagner has gone on record saying that Eastwood’s performance Harry Callahan was a serious inspiration, so much in fact that Dredd’s living quarter in the early comics was known as Rawdy Yates, the name of Eastwood’s character in Rawhide. Eastwood is without a doubt the perfect 70’s Dredd, especially when he was the literal inspiration for the character.
Chief Judge Eustace Fargo: Fargo was commonly known as the 'Father of Justice', as he was responsible for the founding of the Judge System and was Mega-City One's first chief judge. Consequently there is an annual Fargo's Day Parade in his honor and his body lies in a sarcophagus in the Hall of Heroes in the Grand Hall of Justice. Officially he was born in 2001 and died in 2051, though these dates are actually inaccurate. Details of his secret history were fleshed out in the story "Origins".
Marlon Brando (Height: 5’9”, Age: 54 (As of 1978) Notable Works: The Wild One, Godfather, Superman): He’s a classic actor that just as the kind of class to him to do this kind of out there sci-fi movie. Despite being rough to work with he often put people in seats and would be a great Fargo.
President Robert L. Booth: Belligerent and wanting further power, he whipped up public sentiment with the idea that the rest of the world was living off America, sent the army to seize foreign oil reserves, assassinated a dissenting advisor, and threatened to disband the Judges and return to trial by jury. He finally started the Atomic Wars in 2070 in response to international opposition, having convinced the population (and himself) that America's nuclear screens could keep out retaliatory strikes. The resulting devastation of America and the world led to the Judges taking control of the country. Booth fled the White House and took shelter in the Rocky Mountains with robot armies loyal to him; after the Battle of Armaggedon in 2071, he was captured and tried for war crimes. He was sentenced by Judge Solomon, who decreed that he should serve a 100 year term in suspended animation, locked up in the deepest vault in Fort Knox.
David Carradine (Height: 6’1”, Age: 42 (As of 1978) Notable Works: Ironside, Kung Fu, Death Race 2000): When Kung Fu ended he was desperate to start a film career to keep the paychecks coming in, and honestly he played a hell of a villain and stole a lot of attention, he was the first person to come to mind as President Robert Booth.
Release Date: April 21st 1978
Synopsis: The Robot Wars the Mega-City judges face an uprising by the city's robot servant workforce, led by carpenter-droid Call-Me-Kenneth.
Producer: A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to the film studio or other financing entity, while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed. Many film producers also have competency in other fields (directors, screenwriters, actors) but that is not always the case. The producer is often actively involved throughout all major phases of the filmmaking process, from inception and development to completion and delivery of a film project. However, an idea or concept for a film can originate with any individual, including a screenwriter, a director or a producer.
Ridley Scott (Producer: Blade Runner {Uncredited}, Someone to Watch Over Me): As a Producer Scott puts the money where the market is. His style of filmmaking works well for him to produce a Dredd movie to ensure his vision is seen.
Composer - A film score (also sometimes called background music or incidental music) is original music written specifically to accompany a film. The score forms part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects, and comprises a number of orchestral, instrumental or choral pieces called cues which are timed to begin and end at specific points during the film in order to enhance the dramatic narrative and the emotional impact of the scene in question. Scores are written by one or more composers, under the guidance of the film's director and/or producer, and are then usually performed by an ensemble of musicians – most often comprising an orchestra or band, instrumental soloists, and choir or vocalists – and recorded by a sound engineer.
Michael Kamen (Composer: Highlander, Die Hard): His works as a composer is majestic and beautiful. He can switch from mythic to high octane action to worst nightmare at the drop of a hat, having him do a futuristic action movie with Dredd is just a recipe for an amazing score.
Director - Directors are responsible for overseeing creative aspects of a film under the overall control of the film producer. They often develop the vision for a film and carry out the vision, deciding how the film should look, in other words they make their vision come to life. They are responsible for turning the script into a sequence of shots. They also direct what tone it should have and what an audience should gain from the cinematic experience. Film directors are responsible for deciding camera angles, lens effects and lighting with the help of the cinematographer and set design with the production designer. They will often take part in hiring the cast and key crew members. They coordinate the actors' moves, or blocking and also may be involved in the writing, financing and editing of a film.
Ridley Scott (Director: Blade Runner, Legend): He never read Philip K. Dick’s “Do Andriods Dream of Electric Sheep” yet he was able to faithfully and accurately capture the future that Philip K. Dick envisioned. From the Point of Dick watching 20 minutes of the film to his death he faithfully supported the film. No doubt Scott has the eye and style to adapt Dredd’s hardboiled future world of Mega City One. He gets amazing performances from pretty much anyone who stars in his movie and always delivers something intriguing. The story fits Ridley’s style and his taste in story as a director and a member of the audience.
Screenwriter - Screenwriters are responsible for researching the story, developing the narrative, writing the screenplay, and delivering it, in the required format, to Development Executives. Screenwriters therefore have great influence over the creative direction and emotional impact of the screenplay and, arguably, of the finished film. They either pitch original ideas to Producers in the hope that they will be optioned or sold, or screenwriters are commissioned by a producer to create a screenplay from a concept, true story, existing screen work or literary work, such as a novel, poem, play, comic book or short story.
David Webb Peoples (Screenwriter: Blade Runner, Ladyhawke): He adapted the Novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” His script was amazing and was largely used in the final print, director’s cut, producer’s cut, and pretty much every cut. His script was barely polished and only barely added to after he had redrafted Hampton Fischer’s Draft. He gets the feel and style of material in a literature format and was without a doubt the perfect writer for an 80’s Dredd Film.
Judge Joseph Dredd: Judge Joseph Dredd is the titular character of the Judge Dredd universe. Judge Dredd is a clone of the "Father of Justice" Eustace T. Fargo , and is the most feared, respected, and widely known of all the Judges. Judge Dredd first appeared in Prog 2 of 2000AD and is the longest running character therein, having appeared in all but a handful of Progs. Judge Dredd is a Senior Street Judge, and since 2132 a member of the Council of Five the ruling body of the Justice Department of Mega City One.
Ron Perlman (Height: 6’1”, Age: 38 (As of 1988) Notable Works: The Name of the Rose, Beauty and the Beast): {Note: The pic is from a 1993 Film Alien Resurrection, Best pic of Perlman I could find for the time frame) Having just started his career, one of which would often obscure and hide his face via various methods, Perlman was just the Right actor at the time. The 80’s were good to kick off his career, and his voice, stature, and face is just perfect for Dredd.
Call-Me-Kenneth: Call-Me-Kenneth was a robot who appointed himself as leader of all rogue robots during the First Robot War. Kenneth was a carpentry droid driven to rebel by his poor treatment by his owner. Kenneth, equipped with a chainsaw, attacked a number of humans and nearly killed Dredd before being disabled. The Judges then had Kenneth rebuilt, so that scientists could determine what made him break the laws of robotics. Drawn by Ron Turner (the original version was designed by Carlos Ezquerra), this version is more human like and is equipped with a large drill and a third eye. Accidentally reactivated he instead went on the rampage again and raised a whole army of robots to take over the city. His army was defeated when Walter the Wobot sabotaged the robot factory, producing robots loyal to the Judges, which destroyed the factory. The remaining robots were short-circuited when Dredd used Weather Control to make a lightning storm, and Dredd then hunted down Kenneth himself.
Richard Kiel (Height: 7’2”, Age: 49 (As of 1988) Notable Works: The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker): He’ll forever be known as Jaws from the Roger Moore Bond Films, but with a character Like Call-Me-Kenneth (who is one large robot) Kiel is a prime choice. He’s great at playing villains and can really harness the ominous and dark tones of a villain.
Walter the Wobot: He was originally a robo-servant at the Grand Hall of Justice, and was drafted by Judge Dredd during the First Robot War to help him infiltrate the robot stronghold. Unlike the majority of the robots, Walter believed robots should be diligent slaves for humans. It was Walter who landed the final blow on rebel leader Call-Me-Kenneth, being used to override the city's Weather Control computers and unleash a lightning storm, and he was made a free robot (the first ever) with the rights of a human citizen in 2099 for his loyal services.
Frank Welker {Voice} (Notable Works: Superfriends, Inspector Gadget, Transformers G1): A fantastic Voice Actor who literally transformer his voice for each character. He would have been great for the voice of Walter the Wobot.
Chief Judge Eustace Fargo: Fargo was commonly known as the 'Father of Justice', as he was responsible for the founding of the Judge System and was Mega-City One's first chief judge. Consequently there is an annual Fargo's Day Parade in his honor and his body lies in a sarcophagus in the Hall of Heroes in the Grand Hall of Justice. Officially he was born in 2001 and died in 2051, though these dates are actually inaccurate. Details of his secret history were fleshed out in the story "Origins".
Clint Eastwood (Height: 6’4”, Age: 58 (As of 1988) Notable Works: Dollars Trilogy, Dirty Harry): By this point Ron Perlman is an established actor but getting rid of Clint completely would be such a waste. Instead I recast him in the 80’s as Chief Judge Fargo just because he is right for the character, he’s got some age to him, Talent, and would be a great start for him to do more toned down action oriented roles.
Judge Barbara Hershey: Chief Judge Barbara Hershey she was originally Dredd's sidekick, Judge Hershey became the tenth Chief Judge of Mega-City One.
Sean Young (Height: 5’9”, Age: 29 (As of 1988) Notable Works: Blade Runner, No Way Out): A beautiful actress in her own right, she could have done well under Ridley’s Direction.
Release Date: May 6th 1988
Synopsis: Necropolis, manipulating the confused mind of Judge Kraken, the Sisters of Death are able to use the body of Psi-Judge Agee in order to take control of Mega-City One and create a trans-dimensional bridge enabling The Dark Judges to once again manifest themselves.
Producer: A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to the film studio or other financing entity, while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed. Many film producers also have competency in other fields (directors, screenwriters, actors) but that is not always the case. The producer is often actively involved throughout all major phases of the filmmaking process, from inception and development to completion and delivery of a film project. However, an idea or concept for a film can originate with any individual, including a screenwriter, a director or a producer.
Debra Hill (Producer: Escape From New York, Escape From L.A.): During the 70’s through the 90’s Hill and Carpenter were a dynamic producing team that had made serious groundbreaking films. She knew how to work with Carpenter and would have understood him and the material.
Composer - A film score (also sometimes called background music or incidental music) is original music written specifically to accompany a film. The score forms part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects, and comprises a number of orchestral, instrumental or choral pieces called cues which are timed to begin and end at specific points during the film in order to enhance the dramatic narrative and the emotional impact of the scene in question. Scores are written by one or more composers, under the guidance of the film's director and/or producer, and are then usually performed by an ensemble of musicians – most often comprising an orchestra or band, instrumental soloists, and choir or vocalists – and recorded by a sound engineer.
John Carpenter (Composer: Halloween, Escape From New York): He is a fantastic Composer, and for this to be John Carpenter’s Judge Dredd it would have to be John’s score. He’s got an Iconic theme in Halloween and his futuristic Films Escape From New York and Escape From L.A.
Director - Directors are responsible for overseeing creative aspects of a film under the overall control of the film producer. They often develop the vision for a film and carry out the vision, deciding how the film should look, in other words they make their vision come to life. They are responsible for turning the script into a sequence of shots. They also direct what tone it should have and what an audience should gain from the cinematic experience. Film directors are responsible for deciding camera angles, lens effects and lighting with the help of the cinematographer and set design with the production designer. They will often take part in hiring the cast and key crew members. They coordinate the actors' moves, or blocking and also may be involved in the writing, financing and editing of a film.
John Carpenter (Director: Escape From New York, Escape From L.A.): The reason I chose him for the 90’s is because how amazing his Snake Plissken Films are. Not to mention he’s the only Director on the list who I would trust to translate Judge Death to screen. He understands that things happen because they can. His work with Big Trouble In Little China and with Lopan just show that he treats whats comical about the character comical and what’s serious about the character serious. He gets the Supernatural aspect and gets the reason they work and how they move and develop the film.
Screenwriter - Screenwriters are responsible for researching the story, developing the narrative, writing the screenplay, and delivering it, in the required format, to Development Executives. Screenwriters therefore have great influence over the creative direction and emotional impact of the screenplay and, arguably, of the finished film. They either pitch original ideas to Producers in the hope that they will be optioned or sold, or screenwriters are commissioned by a producer to create a screenplay from a concept, true story, existing screen work or literary work, such as a novel, poem, play, comic book or short story.
John Carpenter (Screenwriter: Halloween, Escape From New York) Nick Castle (Screenwriter: Escape from New York): Castle and Carpenter penned the Escapes Movies and they were no doubt amazing. Both are perfect examples of what a Dredd Movie could and should be. They just know how to do Dredd and would have been perfect for a serious Dredd Movie of the 90’s.
Judge Joseph Dredd: Judge Joseph Dredd is the titular character of the Judge Dredd universe. Judge Dredd is a clone of the "Father of Justice" Eustace T. Fargo , and is the most feared, respected, and widely known of all the Judges. Judge Dredd first appeared in Prog 2 of 2000AD and is the longest running character therein, having appeared in all but a handful of Progs. Judge Dredd is a Senior Street Judge, and since 2132 a member of the Council of Five the ruling body of the Justice Department of Mega City One.
Kurt Russell (Height: 5’11”, Age: 45 (As of 1996) Notable Works: Escape From New York, The Thing, Big Trouble in Little China, Escape From L.A.): His take on Snake Plissken is every reason why he works for Dredd. Snake doesn’t take crap from anybody, does what he has to do get the mission done, and sounds like Clint Eastwood. Russell’s voice for Snake is perfect; his portrayal for the character would have been iconic. He’s got the jaw, the talent, and the physicality to play Dredd. Honestly with Carpenter on Dredd, with the right story and what it could say potentially as a character statement and as a political statement are all the reasons why Russell would have played Judge Dredd.
Judge Cassandra Anderson: Like her mythical namesake Cassandra (the sister of Paris of Troy, who seduced Helen), Judge Anderson has psychic powers. In addition to being able to sense approaching danger and foresee events of the near future, as did her namesake, she also has telepathy. This allows her to read other people's minds and use mental attacks. These abilities allowed her to be a member of Mega-City One's corps of Judges as member of the Psi Division, which includes all Judges possessing psychic abilities.
Samantha Mathis (Height: 5’5”, Age: 26 (As of 1996) Notable Works: Super Mario Brothers, Broken Arrow): A fantastic actress in her own right, who seems to have been trapped in films that haven’t been big hits. In the 90’s she needed to washout Super Mario, and a Carpenter Judge Dredd Film, featuring his as Cassandra Anderson, could have been dynamite for her career.
Judge Barbara Hershy: Chief Judge Barbara Hershey she was originally Dredd's sidekick, Judge Hershey became the tenth Chief Judge of Mega-City One.
Sharon Stone (Height: 5’9”, Age: 38 (As of 1996) Total Recall, Basic Instinct, Silver, Casino): An amazing actress in her own right. She has done fantastic performances in her time, she was great in Total Recall. A role like Hershey is something different from her other roles. She has the talent for it but she would just have to go for it, which considering what’s being set up, she probably would.
Chief Judge Thomas Silver: He began his career as a street judge, and served with distinction in the Second American Civil War. However in 2096 he was wounded in action and compelled to retire from active service. He became principal lecturer in Applied Violence at the Academy of Law, teaching the next generation of Mega-City judges. He saw action again when he joined the resistance to the insane Chief Judge Cal, and also when the Academy itself was attacked during the Apocalypse War.
Ernie Hudson (Height: 6’, Age: 51 (As of 1996) Notable Works: Ghost Busters, Ghost Busters II, The Crow): Honestly he’s the only actor who I felt could play Judge Silver. Sure other actors could have knocked it out of the park but I wanted an actor who could make the audience feel like they lived it and to be honest Morgan Freeman, as awesome as he would be, just isn’t my top choice.
Chief Judge Eustace Fargo: Fargo was commonly known as the 'Father of Justice', as he was responsible for the founding of the Judge System and was Mega-City One's first chief judge. Consequently there is an annual Fargo's Day Parade in his honor and his body lies in a sarcophagus in the Hall of Heroes in the Grand Hall of Justice. Officially he was born in 2001 and died in 2051, though these dates are actually inaccurate. Details of his secret history were fleshed out in the story "Origins".
Frank Langella (Height: 6’4”, Age: 58 (As of 1996) Notable Works: Dracula, Masters of the Universe, Dave): A legendary actor who is best known by fans as Dracula and Skeletor. Having him as Chief Judge Fargo puts a great actor into a very comfortable role, and he’s perfect for it. He’s got a commanding voice that grabs your attention when he speaks.
Judge Death: Judge Death appears in something close to a Judge's helmet, though its modified visor resembles a portcullis. His mouth is pulled into a rictus. On his right shoulder is a pterodactyl, as opposed to the Judges' eagles; his left shoulder pad and elbow pads are festooned with bones. His tunic is fastened with crude stitches rather than a zipper, and his badge and belt buckle are each shaped like a human skull with extended fangs, the latter with bat wings. Judge Death will most often kill his victims by reaching directly into their chests and squeezing their hearts until they burst.
Vincent D’Onofrio (Height: 6’4”, Age: 37 (As of 1996) Notable Works: Full Metal Jacket, Mystic Pizza, Ed Wood): An Amazing actor, who can just personify Judge Death. The Best example of how he would have is in Full Metal Jacket where he played a Section 8 nicknamed Golmer Pyle, who goes nuts and kills his C.O. at base. D’Onofrio is adept at playing psychopaths, and though his best work wouldn’t be done till after this film would have been made, It’s an easy choice to cast him as Judge Death.
Judge Fear: Judge Fear is an imposing figure with a black, iron helm obscuring his face, which he will open before his victims to frighten them to death with whatever lies within, often saying "gaze into the face of Fear!" Judge Dredd, however, was able to resist long enough to punch Fear through the head, replying "gaze into the fist of Dredd!" The actual face under the helmet has only been seen once, as a mass of eyeballs - although no explanation was given whether it was his actual face, or a representation of Fear's manifestation of the person watching's greatest terror. Fear has an assortment of bear traps dangling from his belt, and is known to throw them at his enemies in order to immobilize them; it also holds an enormous padlock which he uses to secure his victims' potential exit routes. He wears a thick robe with ornamental bear traps on the shoulders. His belt buckle is a shrunken head. A side note, in Progs 421 and 423 Judge Fear can be seen exhibiting the same powers as Judge Death, stabbing his hands through citizens bodies, though whether this is an additional ability or simply the artist's mistake has never been addressed.
Michael Ironside (Height: 5’10”, Age: 46 (As of 1996) Notable Works: Scanners, Total Recall, Highlander II {Notable doesn’t always mean good.}): Michael Ironside, best known to us as Richter from the Original Total Recall and as Darkseid from Superman The Animated Series. To be honest it’s hard to not cast him as Judge Death and harder to find a reason why he wouldn’t work for Judge Fear. He’s a fantastic Performer who could play this role with a underlining tone that would just scare the hell out of people.
Judge Fire: Judge Fire is immersed in flame, but otherwise his uniform resembles that of Death. He has a human skull for a head and wields a flame-spewing trident. As a human, he was an undercover Judge named Fuego who had infiltrated a resistance group, which he eventually led to the newly-created Judge Death to become his first kills. He earned the name Judge Fire when he was human, for burning a school down for breaking noise regulations at playtime.
Sam Niell (Height: 6’, Age: 49 (As of 1996) Notable Works: Omen III, The Hunt for Red October): He’s a great actor who I’d just want to see play Judge Fire. Having him work with D’Onofrio, Ironside, and Jones as the Dark Judges would just sell a hell of a lot of tickets.
Judge Mortis: Judge Mortis is in a perpetual state of disintegration, and his touch causes his victims to decay extremely rapidly. Like Fire and Fear, he spent his early years as a trainee Judge at Law School, Deadworld's equivalent to Mega-City One's Academy of Law, and graduated after Judge Death. He quickly developed an admiration for Sidney's methods and beliefs and became one of his three lieutenants, sharing his comrade's zeal for passing arbitrary death sentences. He is sometimes employed by Judge Death to prepare the Dark Judges' host bodies. Mortis's head is a sheep skull and he has a bony tail. His uniform's right shoulder is a bird skeleton, and his left shoulder is protected by a perforated mantle. His badge is a stylized sheep skull with his name emblazoned in wood.
Doug Jones (Height: 6’3½”, Age: 36 (As of 1996) Notable Works: Batman Returns, Hocus Pocus, Tank Girl): He’s adept at heavy costuming and make-up while also being a decent actor, he is a fit choice for Judge Mortis. He has the acting Chops and under the make-up would just fit as a person in a John Carpenter Judge Dredd Film.
Release Date: October 11th 1996
Synopsis: The Return of Rico, Joe Dredd's clone brother Rico Dredd returns from Titan [a penal colony for Judges who themselves have broken the law] seeking revenge.
Producer: A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to the film studio or other financing entity, while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed. Many film producers also have competency in other fields (directors, screenwriters, actors) but that is not always the case. The producer is often actively involved throughout all major phases of the filmmaking process, from inception and development to completion and delivery of a film project. However, an idea or concept for a film can originate with any individual, including a screenwriter, a director or a producer.
Edward Neumeier (Producer: Robocop): He threw his money into a project he was passionate about, To be honest if you fed him some Dredd to get him to feel passionate about the project he would be a very hands on producer.
Composer - A film score (also sometimes called background music or incidental music) is original music written specifically to accompany a film. The score forms part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects, and comprises a number of orchestral, instrumental or choral pieces called cues which are timed to begin and end at specific points during the film in order to enhance the dramatic narrative and the emotional impact of the scene in question. Scores are written by one or more composers, under the guidance of the film's director and/or producer, and are then usually performed by an ensemble of musicians – most often comprising an orchestra or band, instrumental soloists, and choir or vocalists – and recorded by a sound engineer.
Basil Poledouris (Composer: Conan the Barbarian, Robocop): His Robocop score is a fantastic piece of orchestral iconography. Honestly his work on Robocop is practically a Judge Dredd Score in and of itself.
Director – Directors are responsible for overseeing creative aspects of a film under the overall control of the film producer. They often develop the vision for a film and carry out the vision, deciding how the film should look, in other words they make their vision come to life. They are responsible for turning the script into a sequence of shots. They also direct what tone it should have and what an audience should gain from the cinematic experience. Film directors are responsible for deciding camera angles, lens effects and lighting with the help of the cinematographer and set design with the production designer. They will often take part in hiring the cast and key crew members. They coordinate the actors’ moves, or blocking and also may be involved in the writing, financing and editing of a film.
Paul Verhoeven (Director: Flesh+Blood, Robocop, Total Recall, Starship Troopers): He would just get the character. Take out Murphy’s Death and the robotic aspects replacing them with Clone, His “Malfunctions” as Dredd’s occasionally disagreement with the law and you have Judge Dredd! He gets the character, every aspect, the action, horror, ironic comedy he would be the perfect Director for Judge Dredd! Paul Verhoeven was born to direct a Judge Dredd Movie!
Screenwriter - Screenwriters are responsible for researching the story, developing the narrative, writing the screenplay, and delivering it, in the required format, to Development Executives. Screenwriters therefore have great influence over the creative direction and emotional impact of the screenplay and, arguably, of the finished film. They either pitch original ideas to Producers in the hope that they will be optioned or sold, or screenwriters are commissioned by a producer to create a screenplay from a concept, true story, existing screen work or literary work, such as a novel, poem, play, comic book or short story.
Edward Neumeirer (Screenwriter: Robocop, Starship Trooper) Michael Miner (Screenwriter: Robocop, Deadly Weapon): As earlier noted, With a few rewrites you literally get a Judge Dredd Movie, they are both fantastic writers who could work amazingly well with the material Judge Dredd has to offer.
Judge Joseph Dredd: Judge Joseph Dredd is the titular character of the Judge Dredd universe. Judge Dredd is a clone of the "Father of Justice" Eustace T. Fargo , and is the most feared, respected, and widely known of all the Judges. Judge Dredd first appeared in Prog 2 of 2000AD and is the longest running character therein, having appeared in all but a handful of Progs. Judge Dredd is a Senior Street Judge, and since 2132 a member of the Council of Five the ruling body of the Justice Department of Mega City One.
Bruce Willis (Height: 6’, Age: 50 (As of 2005) Notable Works: Die Hard {Film Series}, The Fifth Element, Tears of the Sun, Sin City): Honestly, Dredd is an older man, he ages in “real” time. Years go on he ages, around 2005 he was about his 50’s. But honestly the reason I chose Willis is because, besides having the physical features, the talent to play the character, and the voice to play Dredd, he just has the feel of the character down. He’s a tough guy who’s still doing action even in 2005 he was making great films and would have been an ideal choice for Dredd, especially with Paul Verhoeven directing (Think about it, Willis and Verhoeven, that’s money right there!).
Judge Rico Dredd: Rico Dredd (2066–2099) was the "clone brother" of Joseph Dredd, which is to say that they were both cloned from the same genetic source, in their case Chief Judge Fargo. Their growth in the cloning tanks was artificially accelerated, so that within 16 months they emerged with the physical development of children aged five years. They also had their brains electronically induced with knowledge and training which greatly surpassed their apparent physical age, so that they could immediately begin training in law enforcement. Rico was removed from the cloning tanks twelve minutes before Joe, and so he habitually referred to Joe as his little brother (or "Little Joe").
Peter Weller (Height: 6’, Age: 58 (As of 2005) Notable Works: Robocop, Robocop 2, Star Trek Enterprise): I’ve always wanted to see Rico Dredd played by top class talent like Weller. He’s never played the kind of sadistic Villain Rico is, but I’ve always imagined that the best person for the role would be Weller because he’s just an amazing actor. We all know him from Robocop and anticipate him from the new Star Trek film. Weller is a class act who should have played this role in the 2000’s.
Chief Justice Eustace Fargo: Fargo was commonly known as the 'Father of Justice', as he was responsible for the founding of the Judge System and was Mega-City One's first chief judge. Consequently there is an annual Fargo's Day Parade in his honor and his body lies in a sarcophagus in the Hall of Heroes in the Grand Hall of Justice. Officially he was born in 2001 and died in 2051, though these dates are actually inaccurate. Details of his secret history were fleshed out in the story "Origins".
Sean Connery (Height: 6’2½”, Age: 75 (As of 2005) Notable Works: James Bond {Film Series}, The Untouchables, The Rock): Now if it would be a choice between a Paul Verhoeven Judge Dredd Film vs. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, it’s a no brainer. Connery could have been an amazing Fargo, a very political role, is something that suites Connery well.
Judge Barbara Hershey: Chief Judge Barbara Hershey she was originally Dredd's sidekick, Judge Hershey became the tenth Chief Judge of Mega-City One.
Jennifer Garner (Height: 5’8”, Age: 33 (As of 2005) Notable Works: Alias, Daredevil, Pearl Harbor): She gave decent performance in Daredevil. Given the circumstances of the writers, director, and other performer she would be well rooted with amazing performers who would really help her enhance her talent as an actress and give her something different from Alias on her filmography.
Judge Hollins Solomon: Solomon was deputy chief judge serving under Chief Judge Fargo, and a far more politically minded man than his boss. When in 2051 Fargo made a failed suicide attempt which left him severely injured, it was Solomon's idea to fake a heroic death for him as a public relations move. Solomon succeeded Fargo as chief judge until 2057, when he became tired of the politics and handed the role over to Judge Goodman. Originally Chief Judge of the United States, he became Chief Judge of Mega-City One in 2052 when the other mega-cities became autonomous and acquired their own chief judges. Solomon was still serving as a senior street judge on the Council of Five during the Atomic Wars of 2070.
Tommy Lee Jones (Height: 6’, Age: 76 (As of 2005) Notable Works: Men In Black, The Hunted, The Missing): This is the type of role Jones is great at, very political very sociable, and yet not a lot of action required for it. Jones is great for it in both talent and action.
Chief Judge Clarence Goodman: Goodman was joint deputy chief judge at the end of Chief Judge Fargo's term in office, and later continued as deputy under Chief Judge Solomon after Fargo resigned. When Fargo botched a suicide attempt, Goodman helped Solomon to fake Fargo's death. In 2057 Goodman became Chief Judge of Mega-City One and immediately created the Council of Five to assist him and began to arm up the Judges to the extent that they could challenge the military. He attempted to convince President Robert L. Booth not to initiate a world war, but to no avail, and after the Atomic Wars in 2070 he deposed Booth and became head of state, establishing the Justice Department as a stable new government.
Kurtwood Smith (Height: 6’1”, Age: 62 (As of 2005), Notable Works: Robocop, A Time To Kill, Star Trek Deep Space Nine): There’s no doubt that when it comes to Legendary, Kurtwood is supreme amongst his roles as hard asses, Having done so in pretty much everything from Robocop to well after That 70’s Show.
Chief Judge Thomas Silver: He began his career as a street judge, and served with distinction in the Second American Civil War. However in 2096 he was wounded in action and compelled to retire from active service. He became principal lecturer in Applied Violence at the Academy of Law, teaching the next generation of Mega-City judges. He saw action again when he joined the resistance to the insane Chief Judge Cal, and also when the Academy itself was attacked during the Apocalypse War.
Forest Whittaker (Height: 6’2”, Age: 44 (As of 2005) Notable Works: Platoon, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, Phone Booth, Twilight Zone): A fantastic actor, a man who’s built a career playing intimidating figures, both good and bad. For a Chief Judge you need an actor of Whittaker’s caliber, especially when it’s for Judge Silver.
Release Date: September 2nd 2005
Synopsis: Oz, Dredd visits the Australian Mega-City of Oz on the trail of renegade sky-surfer Chopper. At the same time the Mega-City One Judges are attacked by the Judda, a 'lost tribe' of Chief Judge Fargo clones who share Dredd's bloodline.
Producer: A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to the film studio or other financing entity, while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed. Many film producers also have competency in other fields (directors, screenwriters, actors) but that is not always the case. The producer is often actively involved throughout all major phases of the filmmaking process, from inception and development to completion and delivery of a film project. However, an idea or concept for a film can originate with any individual, including a screenwriter, a director or a producer.
George Miller (Producer: Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Mad Max Fury Road): If I’m using him as the Director, Having him has a Producer ensures that this truly is George Miller’s Judge Dredd.
Composer - A film score (also sometimes called background music or incidental music) is original music written specifically to accompany a film. The score forms part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects, and comprises a number of orchestral, instrumental or choral pieces called cues which are timed to begin and end at specific points during the film in order to enhance the dramatic narrative and the emotional impact of the scene in question. Scores are written by one or more composers, under the guidance of the film's director and/or producer, and are then usually performed by an ensemble of musicians – most often comprising an orchestra or band, instrumental soloists, and choir or vocalists – and recorded by a sound engineer.
Michael Wandmacher (Composer: Never Back Down, Punisher War Zone): His music is dark, character driven, and deep into action. His work in Punisher War Zone is a very character driven and has actual underlining themes to it, consciences, corruption, law and order all play out in a sense one way or another in his music. For a modern Dredd Movie he has the right style and poise for a Dredd Score.
Director - Directors are responsible for overseeing creative aspects of a film under the overall control of the film producer. They often develop the vision for a film and carry out the vision, deciding how the film should look, in other words they make their vision come to life. They are responsible for turning the script into a sequence of shots. They also direct what tone it should have and what an audience should gain from the cinematic experience. Film directors are responsible for deciding camera angles, lens effects and lighting with the help of the cinematographer and set design with the production designer. They will often take part in hiring the cast and key crew members. They coordinate the actors' moves, or blocking and also may be involved in the writing, financing and editing of a film.
George Miller (Director: Mad Max {Film Series}): George has directed one of the most iconic post-apocolyptic sci-fi film franchises of all time. Even if they haven’t seen it everyone has heard of Mad Max. When thinking of a director for the final decade I wanted someone who is adept to it. He’s a great filmmaker and when I read the storyline for “Oz” I just knew it would be the perfect Storyline to a George Miller Dredd Movie. I knew it would be a way of connecting him to the character and making it a very personal film. He’s got the talent to direct an amazing Dredd Film.
Screenwriter - Screenwriters are responsible for researching the story, developing the narrative, writing the screenplay, and delivering it, in the required format, to Development Executives. Screenwriters therefore have great influence over the creative direction and emotional impact of the screenplay and, arguably, of the finished film. They either pitch original ideas to Producers in the hope that they will be optioned or sold, or screenwriters are commissioned by a producer to create a screenplay from a concept, true story, existing screen work or literary work, such as a novel, poem, play, comic book or short story.
George Miller (Screenwriter: Mad Max {Film Series}): Much of what I said about him as the Director applies here. He likes to do things close to home. He’s a great writer he created a sci-fi franchise from practically nothing. He’s got the talent and with the Oz storyline he would have the heart for it and would really turn out something creative, faithful, and enjoyable for average movie goers and Judge Dredd Fans alike.
Judge Joseph Dredd: Judge Joseph Dredd is the titular character of the Judge Dredd universe. Judge Dredd is a clone of the "Father of Justice" Eustace T. Fargo , and is the most feared, respected, and widely known of all the Judges. Judge Dredd first appeared in Prog 2 of 2000AD and is the longest running character therein, having appeared in all but a handful of Progs. Judge Dredd is a Senior Street Judge, and since 2132 a member of the Council of Five the ruling body of the Justice Department of Mega City One.
Ray Stevenson (Height: 6’5”, Age: 48 (As of 2012) Notable Workes: Punisher War Zone, Thor, Book of Eli): Honestly, he’s just the perfect choice. He’s got talent, height, voice, and the jaw to play ol’ Stony Face. Stevenson is in my opinion the best of the performers to have played the Punisher, and knowing he won’t play that character again, this would be an extremely fitting character for Stevenson, especially with the story and the director.
Chief Judge Eustace Fargo: Fargo was commonly known as the 'Father of Justice', as he was responsible for the founding of the Judge System and was Mega-City One's first chief judge. Consequently there is an annual Fargo's Day Parade in his honor and his body lies in a sarcophagus in the Hall of Heroes in the Grand Hall of Justice. Officially he was born in 2001 and died in 2051, though these dates are actually inaccurate. Details of his secret history were fleshed out in the story "Origins".
Liam Neeson (Height: 6’4”, Age: 60, Notable Works: Taken, Batman Begins, Battleship): A fantastic actor, who better to play the father of Justice than Liam? He’s got a cold exterior a deep voice and a great reputation as a character actor. Liam fits well for Fargo, if Stevenson is playing Dredd.
Judge Cassandra Anderson: Judge Cassandra Anderson: Like her mythical namesake Cassandra (the sister of Paris of Troy, who seduced Helen), Judge Anderson has psychic powers. In addition to being able to sense approaching danger and foresee events of the near future, as did her namesake, she also has telepathy. This allows her to read other people's minds and use mental attacks. These abilities allowed her to be a member of Mega-City One's corps of Judges as member of the Psi Division, which includes all Judges possessing psychic abilities.
Emmy Rossum (Height: 5’8”, Age: 25, Notable Works: Phantom of the Opera, Shameless, Dragonball Evolution): She is an amazing actress in her own right. She’s been taking a serious turn into drama, the kind of drama that makes Anderson an interesting woman. She really could give herself some geek cred to bring her back from the critically panned DragonBall film. She really has talent as an actress and could really brighten the heart around Stevenson’s Dredd.
Judge Morton Judd: Judd was originally a Judge, Head of Genetics at the Justice Department and a prominent member of the Council of Five. He had been the one to propose the idea of cloning Judges and began this program under Chief Judge Goodman - the most notable success had been Judge Joe Dredd, who had been cloned from the DNA of Chief Judge Fargo. He was heavily disliked by Judge Solomon for his amorality.
Peter Stormare (Height: 6’2”, Age: 62, Notable Works: Fargo, The Big Lebowski, Lockout, Get the Gringo): I love to see him as a villain. He always plays either: cold, quiet, calculated psycopaths, Flamboyant Nihilists, or just flat out political manipulators. He would be a great addition to play Judge Morton Judd. He’s always been a performer who knows how to play the character to make him unique and stand out, something needed for Morton Judd.
Judge Kraken: Kraken was cloned from the DNA of Chief Judge Fargo, and was therefore effectively Judge Dredd's twin brother (since Dredd was also cloned from the same source). However he was actually many years younger than Dredd. Kraken was originally not a judge but one of the Judda, a rogue army of clones created by the renegade Judge Morton Judd from the DNA of Mega-City One's greatest judges, and hidden in a secret base within Ayers Rock. In 2110 Judd sent his army into the Grand Hall of Justice, using teleporters in a surprise attack in an attempt to take control of the city and install himself as chief judge. After Dredd foiled the attack (killing Judd and most of the Judda), Kraken was taken prisoner. When the other prisoners were executed, he alone was spared.
Gerard Butler (Height: 6’2”, Age: 42, Notable Works: 300, Law Abiding Citizen, Coriolanus, Gamer): Butler is a guy who is in serious need of a decent role as a villain. He’s played action packed heroes before but never a true villain, while he was great in Law Abiding Citizen I didn’t see him as a villain. I also chose him because he has many similarities to Ray, enough to see them as part of the same person, but also very different. He’s a great performer who just needs to play Kraken.
Release Date: August 24th 2012