10 Epic Judge Dredd Comics That Would Be Perfect For A Karl Urban Sequel

Judge Dredd first appeared in a British comic book created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra in 1977, and it quickly became a classic. While Sylvester Stallone played the character in a 1995 film, Karl Urban’s portrayal in the 2012 movie was a significant improvement. Although the 2012 film didn’t do well in theaters initially, it has since gained a dedicated fanbase and is now celebrated as a fantastic action movie.

Judge Dredd has starred in many fantastic stories over the years, published by companies like IDW and DC. If Karl Urban were to reprise his role, there’s plenty of material to choose from. The 2012 film showed him as a lone hero battling against the odds, similar to *Die Hard*. A sequel could finally adapt one of the popular storylines from the comic books, which fans would love to see.

A Penitent Man Would Be Perfect for A Judge Dredd Political Thriller

The story, *A Penitent Man*, begins as Kyler Asher, a former judge, is released from prison and tries to rebuild his life in Mega-City One. Judge Dredd is unsure if Asher has truly changed, but becomes even more suspicious when his fellow Judges seem overly eager to get rid of him.

“A Penitent Man” is a surprisingly overlooked modern Judge Dredd story that dives deep into Dredd’s thoughts and feelings. It features a dark conspiracy that strikes at the core of the Justice Department, forcing Dredd to grapple with his loyalty to the system versus his commitment to the law. While the 2012 film didn’t explore the political side of the Judges much, this storyline could be exactly what’s needed to shake things up.

Underbelly Could Be A Direct Follow-Up To 2012’s Dredd

Following the events of the 2012 movie, *Underbelly* explores the power vacuum left after the death of Ma-Ma and her gang. Judge Anderson joins forces with Dredd to investigate a series of deaths involving mutants, uncovering a smuggling ring connected to the dangerous Cursed Earth – a plot point only hinted at in the film. As a new, even more potent drug than slo-mo floods the streets, the Judges must shut down this operation before it spirals out of control.

A sequel to the movie *Dredd* could easily pick up where the story left off by adapting *Underbelly*. This would allow filmmakers to show the full consequences of the first film’s events and really bring the harsh reality of Mega-City One to life, something the original movie only hinted at.

Predator Vs Judge Dredd Would Be Perfect For a Crossover Movie

Predator vs Judge Dredd

The idea of a crossover between *Predator* and *Judge Dredd* is fantastic, though it seems unlikely. However, with Disney now focusing on the *Alien* and *Predator* series, this movie feels more possible than ever, and would be a real treat for fans. The Judges are realistic enough to fit the same tone as the original *Predator* film, but also capable enough to provide a genuinely challenging fight.

The Final Judgment Is A Perfect Fit For Karl Urban

The last chapter in Rebellion’s Dredd comic series, *The Final Judgment*, features a showdown between Judge Dredd and his most dangerous enemy, Judge Death. The story starts when the Judges open a portal to another dimension, accidentally letting the terrifying Dark Judges into their world. As Mega-City One faces total destruction, Dredd must stop them to prevent his city from falling into complete chaos.

Judge Death and his fellow Dark Judges could feel out of place in the world established by the Karl Urban *Dredd* movie, but *The Final Judgment* story handled their introduction really well. Similar to the movie itself, the story doesn’t try to change the established rules of the *Dredd* universe, but instead cleverly integrates the Dark Judges into its existing style and atmosphere.

Guatemala Would Give A Dredd Sequel A New Setting

Following the death of Judge Hershey, *Guatemala* centers around Judge Dredd’s journey to rescue her family from the Central American nation. Ruled by a cruel and oppressive machine government, Guatemala is plagued by widespread human rights abuses. Dredd, accompanied by Judge Ronald, embarks on a dangerous mission to free the people amidst a growing rebellion.

Okay, so I’m a huge Dredd fan, and I seriously think the ‘Guatemala’ story needs to be adapted! It’d be a totally different vibe than the first movie, which I loved, but this story is just *that* good. Imagine Dredd going up against a really nasty dictatorship – it would really expand the world we know and prove just how incredible he is, even in a full-blown war. It’s a really smart story that dives into the politics of Mega-City One and shows how Dredd isn’t afraid to break the rules to get the job done. But honestly, they’d need to set it up carefully; it’s a story that needs a good build-up to really work.

Machine Law Would Bring More Sci-Fi To A Dredd Sequel

The ‘Machine Law’ storyline focuses on the Judges as they try to add robotic officers to their team to increase their numbers. Judge Dredd is paired with one of these robots, Judge Harvey, but he struggles with the partnership. Dredd is distrustful of robot cops and doesn’t appreciate their artificial personalities, making it a difficult collaboration.

The field of Machine Law could benefit from looking at films like *Chappie* for ideas, particularly the well-known science fiction theme of artificial intelligence gaining consciousness. A storyline featuring a leading law enforcement officer overcoming bias against robotic police to serve justice would be compelling. Plus, it would offer a nice connection to Karl Urban’s previous sci-fi series, *Almost Human*.

End Of Days Is A Judge Dredd Horror Story

Following a string of impressive stories, Judge Dredd faces his greatest challenge yet in *End of Days*. This epic saga sees Dredd defending Mega-City One from the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, an ancient and terrifying threat. Aided by the iconic cowboy Ichabod Azrael, he battles the monstrous creatures in a truly spectacular showdown.

While potentially more fantastical and frightening than the 2012 film, a new adaptation of *End of Days* could be a truly grand and disturbing story. Many fans are hoping for a Mega-City One that’s closer to the comic books, and fully embracing the darker themes of the original story would be a great way to achieve that. The story’s Western influences could also make it a perfect fit for today’s popular franchise-driven entertainment, like *The Mandalorian*.

America Is One Of The Most Impactful Judge Dredd Comics

In 1990, John Wagner and Colin MacNeil created a hugely influential story arc in the world of Mega-City One called America. It centers around America Jara, an everyday citizen and passionate patriot who believes in the original ideals of the United States—life, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness. Fueled by her strong dislike of the Judges, she becomes involved in political violence, hoping to revive the country she loves.

The story of *America* is powerfully critical of oppressive government control. It reimagines Judge Dredd not as a hero, but as a villain opposing those who value freedom. This challenges the popular image of Dredd as a Punisher-like figure and reveals the true intent behind creator John Wagner’s vision. It’s a tragic, dystopian science fiction story that evokes the spirit of George Orwell within the world of *2000 AD*, and is essential reading for any fan of Judge Dredd.

The Cursed Earth Is A Fan-Favorite Judge Dredd

The Cursed Earth is a famous setting in the Judge Dredd universe – a dangerous, lawless area outside Mega-City One. In a story called ‘The Cursed Earth,’ Judge Dredd and his team must deliver a vital vaccine across this wasteland to a city facing a deadly outbreak. Their thousand-mile journey is filled with constant battles against the many dangers they encounter.

So far, *The Cursed Earth* remains a high point for the character, forcing him out of familiar territory and into a chaotic, violent world reminiscent of *Mad Max*. A movie based on this story could surpass *Fury Road* and turn the Judge Dredd character from a fan favorite into a widely popular blockbuster franchise.

The Small House Is An Essential Piece Of Judge Dredd Mythology

I’ve always loved how Judge Dredd isn’t just a cop, but the entire legal system rolled into one! The story ‘The Small House’ really gets into what that *means* for him. It showed Dredd facing off against some seriously corrupt judges *within* the Justice Department, and it was intense. When he discovered this conspiracy, and realized how deep it went, he felt he had no choice but to take them down, even if it meant going against the very system he’d dedicated his life to.

The Small House storyline stays true to Wagner’s original idea of exploring fascism through the character. It presents a seemingly flawed hero who actually supports a deeply corrupt system. While stories like *America* hint at Dredd being used by a fascist regime, Williams’ writing makes that connection direct, featuring the famous line, “we’re fascists,” delivered by Smiley.

2025-10-10 01:42