First Dredd Trailer Leaves Us Cautiously Optimistic

This article is over 12 years old and may contain outdated information

Recommended Videos

He may be no Stallone but Karl Urban does a decent job at being a no-shenanigans judge, jury and executioner in the first trailer for Dredd. Granted, this is our first real look at the movie, but with folks like Lena Headey in the cast it’s hard to be just a little bit intrigued. Headey currently stars as the deliciously cruel Cersei Lannister in HBO’s Game of Thrones and will be once again playing the villain. Surely we can find room in our collective hearts for a few more explosions.

Mega City One will soon have a fresh face to patrol its grim and dank alleys. Dredd is set to release on September 21st and will hopefully include a bunch of rad explosions because everyone knows that explosions are rad. If nothing else, the fictional drug “Slo-Mo” certainly makes for some interesting cinematography. What could be better than having a legitimate reason to feature slow-motion explosions and bullets again and again? The obvious answer is nothing.

I suppose we’ll all find out soon enough. Here’s a synopsis of the movie to whet the appetite:

The future America is an irradiated waste land. On its East Coast, running from Boston to Washington DC, lies Mega City One- a vast, violent metropolis where criminals rule the chaotic streets. The only force of order lies with the urban cops called “Judges” who possess the combined powers of judge, jury and instant executioner. Known and feared throughout the city, Dredd (Karl Urban) is the ultimate Judge, challenged with ridding the city of its latest scourge – a dangerous drug epidemic that has users of “Slo-Mo” experiencing reality at a fraction of its normal speed.

During a routine day on the job, Dredd is assigned to train and evaluate Cassandra Anderson (Olivia Thirlby), a rookie with powerful psychic abilities thanks to a genetic mutation. A heinous crime calls them to a neighborhood where fellow Judges rarely dare to venture- a 200 story vertical slum controlled by prostitute turned drug lord Ma-Ma (Lena Headey) and her ruthless clan. When they capture one of the clan’s inner circle, Ma-Ma overtakes the compound’s control center and wages a dirty, vicious war against the Judges that proves she will stop at nothing to protect her empire. With the body count climbing and no way out, Dredd and Anderson must confront the odds and engage in the relentless battle for their survival.

(via io9)

Relevant to your interests


The Mary Sue is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author