"Judge Dredd" Is The Law

Reliance BIG Pictures and IM Global, a Reliance international sales company, will finance DNA’s 3D production of "Judge Dredd", a $45 million film adaptation of the 2000 AD comic-book character created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra.

Filming will take place over the fourth quarter of 2010 in Johannesburg.

"Judge Dredd" is being made by the writer/producer partnership behind "The Beach", "28 Days Later", "28 Weeks Later", and "Sunshine".

Alex Garland, Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich will produce a script written by Garland. Pete Travis, director of "Omagh", "Vantage Point" and "Endgame" will direct.

DNA has also signed Michael Murphy ("District 9") as a South African co-producer, along with Jason and Chris Kingsley, owners of Rebellion/2000 AD.

"Alex Garland’s script is faithful to the original concept that made Judge Dredd a favourite bad-ass hero," said Wagner.

"I grew up reading 'Judge Dredd'", said Garland.

"The incredible writers and artists of 2000 AD were formative influences on me. Andrew, Allon and I have developed this adaptation of 'Judge Dredd' with an emphasis on adrenaline and realism, but with all the scale and spectacle of 'Mega-City One'. We think Pete’s propulsive, edgy style is a perfect match for the project."

First published in 1977, created by writer John Wagner, artist Carlos Ezquerra and editor Pat Mills, 'Judge Dredd' debuted in Brit sci fi anthology "2000 AD", leading to numerous comic book spin-offs.

Inspired by Clint Eastwood's "Dirty Harry", Dredd is a law enforcement officer in a violent city of the future where uniformed Judges combine powers of police, judge, jury and executioner. Dredd and his fellow Judges are empowered to arrest, sentence and execute criminals on the spot.

With 'bionic' eyes implanted after a time-traveling mission to the 'City Of The Damned', Dredd uses a 'lawgiver' pistol, while riding his cannon-mounted, artificial intelligence 'lawmaster' motorbike.

'Joseph Dredd' and his brother 'Rico' were cloned from the DNA of 'Chief Judge Fargo', the first chief judge. Their growth was artificially accelerated, emerging in 2066 with all the appropriate knowledge for their age, electronically implanted in their brains by computer during gestation.

The name 'Dredd' was chosen by genetic scientist 'Morton Judd', to "instill fear in the population."

In 2070 the Dredds saw action for the first time during the 'Atomic Wars', when as cadets, they were temporarily fast-tracked through the 'Academy Of Law', assigned the rank of full judge and sent to restore order, after the US Justice Department deposed 'President Booth'.

Joseph excelled as a judge, rapidly gaining promotion to the rank of senior judge, saving the world from being destroyed during the 'Fourth World War'.

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