The Netflix Top 10 is giving Karl Urban‘s underrated comic book movie adaptation a chance to shine. Fans of the film are no doubt celebrating as it extends the film’s shelf life and expands the chances of a new adaptation.
For those unfamiliar, Karl Urban starred in Dredd, a 2011 adaptation of the comic books featuring the titular character. It was a gritty sci-fi action epic which immediately won fans over with its closer approach to the source material versus 1995’s Judge Dredd. Sadly, mainstream audiences weren’t as intrigued at the time, as the movie bombed at the box office in 2012.
Things seem to be turning around, however, as revealed on the streaming platform’s Top 10 list. At the time of this writing, the film has already hit the No. 5 spot on Netflix. It’s an impressive feat for a film that, again, bombed upon its initial release. But it’s clear that Dredd has built a cult following over the years and that the film has finally found an audience.
The premise of the film revolves around Karl Urban’s Dredd, a futuristic police officer that operates as judge, jury, and executioner. He teams up with Cassandra, a rookie officer psychic played by Olivia Thirlby, and the two go on just one specific mission to take down a drug lord played by Lena Headey. It’s a simple setup loaded with great set pieces and innovative action sequences.
Of course, it helps that Karl Urban has become even more popular in recent years. Though he was already a fan-favorite in such hits as the modern Star Trek films, his role in Amazon’s hit series The Boys has no doubt catapulted his popularity to new levels. As such, it’s the perfect time to get the actor back for a Dredd sequel, especially if there’s finally an audience eager enough to see it.
Previously, there were discussions that the character would become the lead of a new live-action television series titled Judge Dredd: Mega-City One. The series would take place in the titular location, the same as the 2012 film, which is a megalopolis located in a post-apocalyptic United States. Obviously there’s a wealth of material to draw from for a television series or film franchise, so hopefully this helps push things in the right direction.
Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional Netflix news or updates on any new Dredd comic adaptations as we have them.