Long before Karl Urban became the foul-mouthed Billy Butcher in The Boys, he delivered one of the most ruthless performances of his career in Dredd. Released in 2012, the sci-fi action film was noted for its extreme violence, and Urban’s portrayal of Judge Dredd was cold, stoic, and unforgiving, making the character even more intimidating than Billy Butcher at his worst.
The movie wasn’t a huge commercial hit when it was released in theaters. Only grossing $41 million against a budget of $50 million, it was a total marketing failure. However, over the years, Dredd found a passionate audience through streaming and home media, slowly transforming into a cult classic among sci-fi and action fans.
Before The Boys, Karl Urban Gave a Brutal Performance in Dredd
Even though The Boys is famous for its extreme gore and dark humor, the movie Dredd treats violence in a much more serious, brutal way. More than ten years later, the film is still a cult favorite and is definitely Urban’s darkest role ever.
In an interview via Huffington Post, the actor admitted he was shocked by the brutality in the film. Still, he believed it wasn’t incorporated for shock value but as an integral part of the story.
I was certainly taken aback with some of the more graphic elements. I feel that they speak volumes about the world in which Dredd lives in. I think the violence is actually a character in the film. Unlike a lot of films that come out where you get desensitised to the violence because you don’t really see the impact, you do see the impact the violence has in our film and I think what Alex has done is really smart.
Years later, Urban landed the role of Billy Butcher, another character who basks in violence. This enjoyment, according to the actor, stems from his character’s need for release. “It’s an opportunity to get all of that anguish and that angst and that toxicity out of his body,” he told Gold Derby.
The main difference between the two portrayals is that, unlike Billy, who mixes brutality with humor and emotional depth, Dredd shows little empathy, making his violence feel harsher and more intimidating.
Will Urban Return In New Judge Dredd Movie? Here’s What We Know
Over the years, Urban has repeatedly expressed enthusiasm about returning to the role of Judge Dredd. Unfortunately, he’s not going to be involved in Taika Waititi’s planned reboot. The report of a new movie came in 2025 (via The Hollywood Reporter), and recently, Urban confirmed he’s not part of it (via Collider):
No, no, no, not at all. I’m super excited to see what he does with it. I think that he’s a phenomenal filmmaker, and with modern technology and the worldbuilding that you can do with things like the Volume, I’m super excited to see what he does with it.
There hasn’t been any fresh update on the new Judge Dredd film since then. While details about the project are still kept under wraps, it is expected to take inspiration more from the comics than the previous screen adaptations. Sylvester Stallone also played the character in 1995’s Judge Dredd.
Movie:DreddDirector:Pete TravisWriter:Alex GarlandRelease Date:September 21, 2012Rotten Tomatoes:80% | 72% (As of May 20, 2026)
Have you watched both Judge Dredd films? Let us know in the comments!
Dredd is currently available to watch on Prime Video.
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