Karl Urban Plans To Bring Back The Superhero You Forgot He Played After The Boys
The Boys star Karl Urban wants another shot at Judge Dredd, eyeing a return to the 2012 sci-fi role that bombed at the box office but has since achieved cult status.
Karl Urban still wants the helmet back. While out promoting his new movie, The Bluff, the star of The Boys said he would jump at playing Judge Dredd again. The twist: a fresh Dredd feature is in the works with a different team, and it does not sound like he is part of it.
Urban on suiting up again
Asked on The Discourse podcast if he would return as Mega-City One's most famous lawman, Urban did not hedge.
"I would love to reprise that role in a heartbeat. I really would. I had so much fun making that movie."
"If I'm not part of it, then I'm all good with it. I just want to see more Dredd stories."
For anyone keeping score: he is proud of Dredd, he wants back in, and he will still buy a ticket even if it is not him under the visor.
So what is happening with Judge Dredd now?
In July 2025, trade reporting pegged Taika Waititi to direct a new Judge Dredd movie. Drew Pearce is attached to write the script, and plot details are being kept quiet. As of now, the odds of Urban appearing in that version sound slim.
Why this matters for Dredd die-hards
Judge Dredd has been around since the 1970s, created by artist Carlos Ezquerra and writer John Wagner. The first big-screen attempt arrived in 1995 with Sylvester Stallone, which did not land with critics or audiences.
Urban's take in 2012 was a different story: the film stumbled at the box office but found its audience later and has since grown into a cult favorite. On Rotten Tomatoes, it sits at 80% with critics and a 72% audience score. That after-the-fact reputation is exactly why fans keep asking for Urban to get another shot.
Where things stand
- Karl Urban says he would return to Dredd "in a heartbeat," but he is also happy just seeing more stories get made.
- A new Judge Dredd movie is moving ahead with Taika Waititi directing and Drew Pearce writing; no plot details yet.
- Urban's involvement in that project looks unlikely at the moment.
- Urban currently stars as Billy Butcher on The Boys.