• Release Date: Expected sometime in 2019
  • Cast: possibly Karl Urban
  • Producers: Mark Stern, Stuart Ford, Jason Kingsley, Chris Kingsley, Brian Jenkins
  • Writers and Directors: Unknown

This article will be updated as we learn more about the upcoming TV show.

Karl Urban Returning To Judge Dredd TV Show?

Dredd 2 with Karl Urban not happening

When news broke in May that Judge Dredd was returning to the screen in a new TV show, the first question on fans' minds was whether or not Karl Urban would return to the role. The 45-year-old actor's starring turn in the 2012 film Dredd was roundly well-received, and when we asked him in a recent interview if he was in line to return to the character, he confirmed that talks were taking place. Urban says he told producers "Listen, if you write a character that has a function and a purpose and contributes to the overall story, then I might be very interested in reprising that role.’"

Read more: Karl Urban Tells Us What It’d Take to Play Judge Dredd Again

The TV Show Is Named Judge Dredd: Mega City One

The hard-nosed police officer's new series is set to be titled Judge Dredd: Mega-City One, just in case you were worried that the show would take place anywhere else. Rest assured, this Street Judge has been patrolling the streets of Mega-City One for over 40 years now, and he has no intention of abandoning his hometown anytime soon.

Read More: Judge Dredd Live-Action TV Show in the Works

Is The Judge Dredd TV Show Replacing A Movie Sequel?

Karl Urban talks Dredd 2

Despite receiving stellar reviews upon its release, the 2012 Dredd film was a dud at the box office. Its rising status as a cult classic and some stellar DVD sales numbers prompted sequel talks, though those ultimately went nowhere. Whether or not the TV series is connected to the movie will likely depend entirely on Karl Urban's involvement. If the actor returns to the role, the show will likely serve as a sequel to the film; if he passes, a reboot will be the most likely outcome. In any case, a big screen sequel doesn't seem to be in the cards.

Read More: How A Dredd TV Series Could Connect To The Movie

Dredd Might Not Be The Main Character?

If Karl Urban opts against returning, but producers still wanted to tie the new TV series into the 2012 film, the show could very well focus primarily on other Street Judges found in the pages of the 2000 AD comics. Producer Jason Kingsley told IGN that they intend to explore "the wider world of Mega-City One," while the official announcement of the series actually stated that it would be an ensemble drama that follows a team of judges.

Read More: A Judge Dredd TV Series Is Better Than A Dredd Sequel

Will The Judge Dredd TV Show Be Rated R?

Judge Dredd

There's been no official word on whether or not the Mega-City One TV show will be intended for adults only. But given the nature of the comic series on which it's based -- and the widely loathed reception of the watered down 1995 adaptation starring Sylvester Stallone, which was rated PG-13 -- it's hard to imagine that the upcoming series won't be labeled TV-MA, the small screen equivalent of a R-rated movie. Of course, this also depends on who picks up the series...

Read More: Sylvester Stallone’s Judge Dredd Re-Imagined As 2012’s Dredd

Where You'll Be Able To Watch The Judge Dredd TV Show

Since the show hasn't been officially commissioned by a network or streaming service, educated guesses are all we have to go on here. The hard-hitting nature of the franchise likely excludes it from landing on a major network, and the production budget required may be a bit lofty for the likes of FX and Syfy. Streaming service giants like Netflix and Amazon would be safe landing spots, but we wouldn't rule out up-and-comers like Crackle or Youtube TV either.

Read More: Karl Urban Wants Netflix Or Amazon To Make Dredd 2

The Judge Dredd TV Show Trailer Will Be Released...

The Mega-City One TV series has only been in active development for a few months now, and one of the lead producers, Jason Kingsley, has confirmed that the show is at least a few years away from its debut. Fans should therefore expect to see a full trailer sometime in 2019, though because the project is still in its infancy, that timeline could drastically change in the coming months. Whenever cameras actually start rolling, a teaser of some sort will likely follow shortly afterwards.

Read more: Judge Dredd TV Series At Least Two Years Away

First Look Concept Art

Concept artist Jack Eaves recently offered up the first look at the sort of Mega-City One we should expect to see in the upcoming series (via IGN). One image presented a slightly less downtrodden city than many would have anticipated, while the other piece (featured above) showed off its opposing underbelly. We should expect to see more of the latter once the series premieres on the small screen.

Read More: Judge Dredd TV Show Concept Art - Welcome Back to Mega-City One

Comic Storylines We Could See In The Judge Dredd TV Show

Producer Jason Kingsley has spoken at length about the infinite number of comic storylines that could be adapted, though he made special mention of the potential of a take on the famed Cursed Earth saga in an interview with Pocket-Lint. Other popular storylines that are primed for adaptation include America and The Judge Child.

Judge Death and the other Dark Judges badly need to make their live-action debut at some point, though.

Read More: A Judge Dredd TV Series Is Better Than A Dredd Sequel

The Creative Team Behind The Judge Dredd TV Show

We've yet to receive any word on just who exactly is working in the Mega-City One writer's room, though the producing team behind the project includes Mark Stern (Battlestar Galactica) and Stuart Ford (Hacksaw Ridge, Free State of Jones). Chris Kingsley and Brian Jenkins are also producing, as is Jason Kingsley, the CEO of the video game developer Rebellion (of the Sniper Elite series). Rebellion actually purchased 2000 AD comics a while back, so if you wanted more proof that the series will adhere closely to the source material, you've got it.

Read More: Judge Dredd Co-Owner Says Adi Shankar Not Involved With Dredd 2

More Judge Dredd News

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