With Dredd 3D, Karl Urban becomes part of an elite group of actors that are considered movie stars. We have seen him in big blockbusters movies like The Lord of the Rings, The Bourne Supremacy, The Chronicles of Riddick, Star Trek and Red, but now he plays the lead, and Judge Dredd is a character that makes you think: “Be careful what you wish for, ‘cause you just might get it”.

Dredd 3D is set in Mega City One, a vast, violent metropolis where criminals rule the chaotic streets. The only force of order lies with the urban cops called “Judges” who possess the combined powers of judge, jury and instant executioner.  Known and feared throughout the city, Dredd (Karl Urban) is the ultimate Judge, challenged with ridding the city of its latest scourge, a dangerous drug epidemic that has users of “Slo-Mo” experiencing reality at a fraction of its normal speed.  Directed by Pete Travis and written by Alex Garland, this comic book is one to remember.

In the film, Urban’s face is lost inside a helmet.  Although it is part of the stoic characteristics of Judge Dredd, it becomes a challenge for any actor trying to convince the spectators of an emotion without being able to show his eyes or to express himself to his maximum capacity. Urban was up for the challenge.

Entertainment Affair:  What are the acting challenges of playing a character that never shows his face, specifically, his eyes?
Karl Urban:  The real challenge was finding the humanity of the character and looking for ways to make it accessible to an audience.  He is not a robot, he is not a super hero with super powers.  He is an ordinary man, very highly trained individual and consequently his emotions are always in check. It was important to look for those places where he struggles with containing those emotions. It was important to find those places where he uses sense of humor or compassion.

EA: What about the challenges of speaking the minimum with a different voice tone than yours?
KU: When I did my research, I found a panel in one of the comics that describe his voice like being a sword cutting through a bone. That was a starting point for the voice. In the script and in the movie, he uses his voice as a weapon. It had to service that as well.

EA: Is there anything of you in playing Dredd?
KU: (Laughs).  I don’t know.  That is a very good question.

EA: How can you relate to this character?
KU:  I relate to him as a man who is struggling to do the best that he can in an impossible situation. A man of honor, a man of principles, a man who is not afraid to be proven wrong.  I admire his bravery, his courage.

EA: How was the physical training like?
KU: Grueling! I trained three months before shooting in the gym and three weeks of military boot camp.

EA: Does your perception of justice change after playing this role?
KU: (Thinks about it) Yes.  In a way, it’s interesting to see where justice being done is not necessarily in strict relation to the law.  There are many forms of justice.

EA: Do you think today’s society is in danger to end up like it is portrayed in the movie?
KU: I certainly hope not. It would not be good to live in a society where the law enforcement responds to only 6% of the crime.  That would be a disaster!

And we agree.

Don’t miss Dredd 3D in theaters September 21st.