Wild Remake in the Works? Taika Waititi to Direct Judge Dredd Movie Reboot With Massive Franchise Potential

He is the law… again.

In what’s being called one of Hollywood’s hottest packages of the year, Taika Waititi is officially set to direct a brand-new Judge Dredd feature film—marking a bold and possibly wild reimagining of the ultra-violent comic book icon.

Waititi, best known for Thor: Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit, is teaming up with screenwriter Drew Pearce, whose action-packed credits include The Fall Guy and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. The duo, who reportedly grew up as die-hard Dredd fans and longtime friends, have been eyeing a collaboration for years—and this may be their most explosive idea yet.

📚 A Gritty Icon Reborn

Created in 1977 by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra, Judge Dredd first appeared in the British comic anthology 2000 AD. The character—known for his brutal justice in the dystopian Mega-City One—acts as judge, jury, and executioner in a future where law enforcement has no rules and no boundaries. Dredd’s world is both violent and deeply satirical, a mirror to real-world legal extremism.

Over the decades, the character has become a pop culture force with over 100 million comics and graphic novels sold, along with games, novels, and even UK postage stamps.

🎥 Third Time’s the Charm?

Dredd has made his way to the big screen before:

• In 1995, Sylvester Stallone starred in a big-budget version that fizzled with critics and fans alike.
• In 2012, Karl Urban donned the helmet in a cult-favorite reboot that was grittier, darker, and more faithful to the comics—but still didn’t break big at the box office.

Now, Waititi’s take is rumored to lean heavily into the original comic’s world-building and twisted humor, with a story that resonates with modern social commentary—while still delivering a visually explosive sci-fi blockbuster.

The ultimate goal? A Dredd cinematic universe—movies, spin-offs, and streaming series all under one brutal, visor-covered roof.

🎬 MainEvent.News | Backstage Take

Taika Waititi directing a Judge Dredd reboot might sound wild—but wild is exactly what this franchise needs. Past adaptations struggled to balance tone, often caught between camp and grit. But with Waititi’s signature blend of satire and style, and Pearce’s action pedigree, this could finally be the version that nails both. More importantly, studios clearly aren’t just eyeing one film—they’re betting on Dredd becoming the next IP goldmine. Dark justice. Deadpan humor. Franchise ambition. This might be the weird, violent, fun dystopia audiences didn’t know they were waiting for.