[Movies] Karl Urban Discusses His Role in Dredd Posted by Jeffrey Harris on 09.20.2012
Dredd hits theaters this Friday...
ShockTillYouDrop spoke with actor Karl Urban about Dredd 3D which hits US theaters this Friday and has been getting fantastic reviews so far:
Urban on his reservations in playing the Judge Dredd character: "I had certain reservations before I read the script and they were grounded in the fact that I read Dredd growing up and it meant something to me. The first film adaptation was not well received. But, those reservations were dispelled when I read Alex Garland's script and found it to be a character-driven, action-packed script. I felt he nailed the character. It's the type of man he [Dredd] is. The archetype is grounded and, I guess, a man with no name. A guy who doesn't say much but does a lot. Also, this wonderful, dry sense of humor. No matter how desperate or macabre things get, he could always crack a joke. That was important."
On finding the voice for Dredd: "Yeah, it's a huge thing. I found it through trial and error. I found a panel in one of the comics during the research phase that described Dredd's voice as a saw cutting through bone. That was a starting point for me. And Alex had written many scenes where Dredd uses his voice in a special way whether it's to intimidate or as a weapon. So, it really had to service all of those things and resonate and where it sits within him. I'm from New Zealand and, typically, a lot of modern New Zealanders form sounds in the mouth or through their head, it can quite often mean they sound high-pitched or nasally where Americans tend to come from the chest. They don't move their mouth much, but it's grounded in the chest and the body and that's the choice I made for Dredd."
On wearing the helmet and costume: "Which was a bitch to wear, but I liked it in a sado-masochistic way. It really helped add to the attitude of Dredd. It was not an easy time wearing it. I was comfortable in the fact that I was used to it, but there was a certain level that came with wearing it. We were shooting in a South African summer and I'm wearing full leather, body armor and a helmet."
On the story reintroducing the character: "You're forced to focus on the characters. You're not getting distracted by a special effects extravaganza. This is the story of a veteran cop and a rookie. And they're forced together and need to survive. There's a real evolution to them. It would be a mistake to say, that you can only see Cassandra Anderson's journey, from being a rookie to getting her stripes, but Dredd, he doesn't move much. That's not true. He, in a subtle way, he moves quite a distance for him. He sees the world in black and white, right and wrong, but he makes a judgement and things change. For a guy whose job is to dispense justice, he's presented with a gray area and that's really interesting."
If we could see Judge Death if this cinematic universe for Dredd were to continue: "I certainly believe so. I think that'd be great. I'd love to come back and continue to develop this character, but the reality is the movie has a mountain to climb. If we get the opportunity, I'll come back and Alex will come back. But if this is a one-off, single film, then it's a hell of a cult classic film."
Urban on his cameo for the new Riddick movie: "I sort of do a cameo. I help transition the story and the character of Riddick, where we last saw him, into his new adventure. I had a great time working with Vin and David Twohy, they're a fantastic team. I've seen a bit of the film and it's really, really good...it's got a much more indie art house sensibility about it - it's a lean machine."
Also don't miss 411mania.com's own exclusive interviews with the cast of Dredd. Also don't miss our official review of the movie going up first thing tomorrow.
