Dredd movie release date set for September 2012

Karl Urban as Judge Dredd. Via IM Global

(with thanks to Everything Comes Back to 2000AD): Variety is reporting that the release date for the Judge Dredd movie - titled simply Dredd - starring Karl Urban as 21st September 2012.

At this stage, it's unclear whether this is just the US  release - British comic fans are clearly hoping for a simultaneous UK debut.

Produced by Lionsgate and set for a 3D release, Dredd will follow The Expendables 2 into cinemas, which is set for release on 17th August.

Directed by Pete Travis, director of Endgame and Vantage Point, Dredd stars Karl Urban as Judge Dredd, Olivia Thirlby as Judge Anderson and Lena Headey as "Madeline Madrigal".

Shot in South Africa, Variety notes the film is produced by DNA Films' Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich and Alex Garland, along with Stuart Ford's IM Global.

Reportedly a day in the life as of Dredd as he trains rookie Anderson, "Alex Garland's script is faithful to the original concept that made Judge Dredd a favourite bad-ass hero," Judge Dredd co-creator John Wagner revealed last May (reported here on ReelzChannel). "It's a high-octane slay ride through the dark underbelly of the vast future city. A fan pleaser."

The official synopsis of the film, published on the IM Global site, reveals Dredd takes us to the wild streets of Mega City One, the lone oasis of quasi-civilization on Cursed Earth.

"Judge Dredd is the most feared of elite Street Judges, with the power to enforce the law, sentence offenders and execute them on the spot — if necessary. The endlessly inventive mind of writer Alex Garland and the frenetic vision of director Pete Travis bring Dredd to life as a futuristic neo-noir action film that returns the celebrated character to the dark, visceral incarnation from John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra's revered comic strip."

"I grew up reading Judge Dredd," said script writer Alex 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."

Of director Pete Travis he commented: "We think Pete's propulsive, edgy style is a perfect match for the project."

Dredd will be competing with Hotel Transylvania, an animated film from Sony on its US release weekend.

Commenting on the news, 2000AD fan site ECBT2000AD noted: "It doesn’t confirm if that's just the US date or if we’ll get it over in the UK at the same time. If anyone from Lionsgate reads this I’d just like to point out that if there is one of those 'It's released in America today, you guys get it in three weeks' announcements you can expect some serious kicking off. Just for the record."

We're sure there will be more news on the film and its release date this weekend at the San Diego Comic Con, where Rebellion and 2000 AD have a big presence as they step up their US activities.

Karl Urban as Judge Dredd. Via IM Global