Dredd was one hell of a movie, wasn’t it? While I wasn’t crazy about the plot (too much of a Raid rip-off) the cast was on-point and the production design was fantastic. Throughout the entire film, I was excited to see what else these film makers could create in the Dredd universe.
Well, I should reel in my excitement. You should too. And if you were one of the many hoping for a Dredd 2 then you should really, really lower your expectations.
Dredd screenwriter Alex Garland was talking with Collider about his new film Ex Machina and of course Dredd came up. While Garland was very thankful for the support from fans, he had to deliver some bad news:
How can I say this without being soppy? It’s touching. It means something that these people support the film in that way, but the thing people want, which is a sequel, I don’t think is going to happen. I think it will happen (let me rephrase that) I don’t think it’s happening with me and the people who made the last one.
Garland is right to predict another Dredd. We are in the age of endless remakes. If something doesn’t hit the first time, just give it a shot again a few years later. That’s why we’ll get another Punisher film, a new Daredevil series and a young, sexy Fantastic Four. So, yeah, Judge Dredd may saunter onto screen again. At the same time, Garland is also right that he won’t be involved. As well-liked as it was, Dredd didn’t connect and it’s unlikely the same team will get another chance at bat.
Dredd 2 was starting to become the new Firefly. People kept holding out hope and devoured every rumor but it’s time to face facts: it ain’t happening. Let’s just hope when and if Dredd comes back, he’s more Karl Urban and way, way less Sly Stallone.