British film magazine Empire has an impressive array of new photographs from the set of Dredd, the forthcoming film based on the irrepressible 2000 A.D. character Judge Dredd created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra. The film stars Karl Urban (Star Trek, Priest) in the title role, an ultra-violent lawman based in Mega-City One, a post-apocalyptic metropolis where his word is law. The set photos offer us more looks at Urban's Dredd as well as the first official shots of Judge Anderson, Ma-Ma and other Judges, and confirmation that Dredd will not remove his helmet for the duration of the film, in keeping with the comics tradition.

This encouraging visage of Judge Dredd continues a promising line of news items about the new film. ComicsAlliance reported previously on the film's securing a record $30 million in pre-sales to foreign markets, and the movie has since secured U.S. distribution courtesy of Lionsgate. Back in January, John Wagner posted to Facebook encouraging words about the film's production, including the following tantalizing tidbit: "There was one shot where the camera focused in on his face, a reaction to Anderson, and I swear Carlos could have drawn that scowl."

Directed by Peter Travis (Vantage Point) from a script by Alex Garland (28 Days Later, Sunshine), Dredd will be truer to the over-the-top satirical source material than the disappointing 1995 effort that starred Sylvester Stallone and Rob Schnieder. The new film will be shot in 3D and by much of the crew responsible for District 9.

Dredd is set to be released September 21, 2012.


[Via Superhero Hype]