Concept Art for Judge Dredd TV Series, Karl Urban in Talks to Reprise

Earlier this summer, it was revealed that a TV series based on the cult 2000 AD Comics featuring Judge Dredd was in development under the title Judge Dredd: Mega City One. Now, IGN has debuted two pieces of concept art for the production, as well as bringing news that the Judge himself Karl Urban is in talks to reprise his titular role!

“I am in discussions with them about that,” Urban said this weekend at the Star Trek Las Vegas convention (via TrekMovie). “I told them that if they write the material and give Dredd something to do and give him a function, I will be there. I would love to.”

Series producer Jason Kingsley released a statement to IGN about the matter, which read:

“We have been in discussions with Karl about his possible involvement in Judge Dredd: Mega-City One for some time. These conversations continue but we’re keen, he’s keen – it’s just a case of us making sure this show is everything we want it to be.

“This needs to be done right – the fans deserve it. Our team is working hard on scripts for the first season, creating engaging multi-thread storylines, one of which will be Dredd’s but others which take us into the wider world of Mega-City One.”

Judge Dredd: Mega City One will be an ensemble drama that follows a team of Judges – futuristic cops invested with the power to be judge, jury, and executioner – as they encounter the myriad challenges of a world in which east-coast cities have merged into a giant megalopolis. Despite its 22nd century setting, many of the issues they encounter will have echoes of those today – from the dangers of domestic terrorism to the tensions between the ultra-rich and the disenfranchised.

Judge Dredd celebrates his 40th anniversary this year, having been created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra in the pages of 2000 AD way back in 1977. Dredd is an officer of the law in a dystopian future where he has the power of judge, jury, and executioner.

The character has previously been adapted into two feature films, the 1995 film starring Sylvester Stallone in the title role and 2012’s Dredd featuring Urban. Though the most recent feature was a notable box office bomb, it has gone on to become a cult hit among fans who have often hoped for a sequel.