Karl Urban’s highly rated comic book movie, Dredd, deserves a sequel even more now after the success of Amazon’s The Boys, in which Urban plays a lead role. Karl Urban has featured in many high-profile productions over the years, ever since landing his big break role as Éomer in The Lord of the Rings trilogy in 2002. However, in recent years, Urban is most notably known for playing Billy Butcher, who is one of the lead characters in Erik Kripke’s The Boys, a comic adaptation series which follows a group of people trying to take down corrupt superheroes or “supes.”

The Boys first aired in 2019 and has quickly become one of the top shows on Amazon Prime, with The Boys’ season 4 breaking multiple streaming records. Its gory premise and unconventional satirical approach to the superhero genre have been highly praised, leading The Boys to create multiple spinoff shows following various characters. Urban’s Butcher is notorious for his cockney accent in the American streaming show, demonstrating his competence as a lead character. Urban’s proven star power makes it even more strange that Dredd 2 did not happen. However, thanks to The Boys‘ success, the long-awaited follow-up could finally arrive.

The Boys’ Success Is A Reminder Of How Great Karl Urban Was In Dredd

Karl Urban’s Performance Was Highly Praised

Since its release, The Boys has become a success due to its absurd nature and has become one of Karl Urban’s best shows in his filmography, with Butcher providing some of the most iconic lines and scenes in the superhero series. Urban’s gruff voice mirrors that of Dredd and the two characters are similar due to their penchant for violence. However, while The Boys‘ success has ensured that Billy Butcher is one of Urban’s most popular characters, the similarities with Dredd only highlight how the 2013 movie warrants a follow-up.

The sci-fi action movie has an 80% score on Rotten Tomatoes and has been praised by critics for being the dark adaptation that the comic book deserved.

As a main character in both, The Boys’ success is a reminder of Karl Urban’s brilliant performance in Dredd. The sci-fi action movie has an 80% score on Rotten Tomatoes and has been praised by critics for being the dark adaptation that the comic book deserved. Urban delivers a strong and emotive performance despite being masked up throughout Dredd, echoing the subtlety he’s brought to Billy Butcher. Although Karl Urban’s Dredd movie bombed at the box office, it’s critical success and tonal similarities to The Boys prove that a follow-up has the potential to succeed.

Dredd was also limited to a 3D release in the UK, which limited the number of theaters that could show it and turned moviegoers off.

Dredd Was An Unconventional Comic Book Adaptation Before The Boys & Invincible

Dredd Is One Of The Best Non-Superhero Comic Adaptations

Before the likes of The Boys and Amazon’s adult animated superhero series, Invincible, popularized the subgenre, darkly violent and unconventional comic book adaptations were much more unusual, with Dredd a notable exception. Both Amazon series are anti-superhero shows which demonstrate the dark side to superhero life, focusing on the moral struggles of the people fighting against the inhuman figures. However, before Invincible and The Boys, Dredd was one of the best non-superhero comic book adaptation movies that tackled similar complicated themes in an ultraviolent setting.

Judge Dredd Movie
Box Office
Rotten Tomatoes Score

Judge Dredd (1995)
$113.5 million
22% Tomatometer

Dredd (2012)
$41.5 million
80% Tomatometer

Dredd was based on the 2000 AD British comic strip, Judge Dredd by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra. The comic satirized American and British culture and followed Judge Dredd, a judicial officer, as he arrests, sentences, and executes criminals in the American dystopian city, Mega-City One. Judge Dredd was first adapted into live-action in Stallone’s 1995 film, which was heavily criticized due to poor acting and for its lack of adherence to the source. However, Dredd’s 2012 reboot was better received, with many fans demanding that a Dredd sequel should happen following Karl Urban’s great performance.

Why Now Would Be The Perfect Time For Another Judge Dredd Movie

Billy Butcher’s Storyline Could Help Karl Urban’s Dredd Sequel

Custom Image by Debanjana Chowdhury

Now would be the perfect time for another Judge Dredd movie to be released because the world of cinema is changing. Following the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Cinematic Universe, many superheroes have already been adapted into movies and TV shows. Therefore, in order to benefit from the zeitgeist while also remaining unique, there has been a growing tendency for unconventional and violent comic book adaptations, like Invincible, to push boundaries. Major companies have already followed suit, evidenced by Marvel’s new R-rated superhero movies. Dredd 2 is the perfect way for someone else to capitalize on the trend.

Karl Urban’s career has moved on since Dredd. However, in his portrayal of the volatile Billy Butcher, he has proven that he still has what he takes to bring an iconic comic book creation to life within a story that tackles existential themes of authoritarianism, political violence, and justice. Considering how The Boys has helped propel these themes to the fore, there’s arguably never been a better time for a Dredd sequel to finally get a green light. Urban’s high-profile, coupled with the popularity of the source material’s themes, means that fans could finally get their wish.