Summary
- Taika Waititi directing a Judge Dredd movie has some worried about the film's tone and ability to balance humor.
- Waititi's eclectic resume and track record make him the perfect director for the new Judge Dredd adaptation.
- Thanks to his work on the failed Akira adaptation, Waititi could be primed for Judge Dredd, with restraint on the jokes.
Judge Dredd is coming back with another live-action film adaptation. However, the choice of director for the comic-inspired sci-fi movie worries many fans of the character. There are plans to have the film kick off a shared universe of content meant to include TV shows, which further creates concern, especially if the film sets the tone for everything that follows.
Despite fans worrying, director Taika Waititi has a unique filmography with some bold choices. Initial concerns surrounding the new Judge Dredd point to it being outside the director's wheelhouse, but Waititi's eclectic resume more than proves that he is actually the perfect choice to help the cinematic reboot of the beloved comic character.
Taika Waititi's Track Record As A Director Has More Hits Than Misses
Fans Of What We Do In The Shadows Owe Waititi A Lot
When it comes to criticizing Waititi's work, Thor: Love and Thunder is at the top of the list. The movie felt overly humorous, deflecting from some of the deeper emotional beats of the story. However, many people fail to recall how well crafted the film's villain, Gorr the God Butcher, was. He elicited sympathy from the audience, and his story was dark, despite the other overtly funny elements in the superhero sequel. Even without Waititi's perceived shortcomings with Love and Thunder, he was given more freedom on the sequel thanks to his outstanding accomplishments with Thor: Ragnarok, which many regard as one of the MCU's best installments.
Beyond Waititi's big-budget superhero exploits, he has a lauded resume that has impressed critics. One of his earliest directorial efforts was Boy, a small film about a son's disillusioned relationship with his father, which highlighted his deft ability to balance emotional themes and humor. He continued this trend through several films. The Hunt for the Wilderpeople saw a man and a young boy left down and out when life deals them an emotional blow, only for them to find family in each other. Meanwhile, Jojo Rabbit saw the director playing Hitler in a comedic jab at harsh themes, which was also fueled by impactful family drama.
One of the director's most notable films is the vampire comedy What We Do in the Shadows. The film's success saw it adapted into a TV series that recently concluded a six-season run. Still, some were left unimpressed by his soccer dramedy Next Goal Wins, which many felt focused on the wrong character, and even his first film Eagle vs Shark, which has a sense of humor that isn't for everyone, akin to Napoleon Dynamite. However, even with Waititi having a few misses in his career, his acclaimed outings outnumber his missteps, with the director accruing a loyal fanbase.
Waititi Can Channel His Years Of Work On The Now Dead Akira Adaptation
Akira Could Have Taught Waititi A Few Things About Judge Dredd's Needs
Akira is a 1988 anime film that many regard as one of the best ever made. Beyond the unique sci-fi story that sees a teenage biker turned into a psychic psychopath on a rampage, it also inspired numerous filmmakers and creatives thanks to its distinctive style. References to Akira have popped up throughout popular cinema and TV, with Dark City, Jordan Peele's Nope, and even South Park, to name a few. Attempts to adapt Akira to live action have been in the works for over two decades. Numerous directors have also been attached to the project, like Blade's Stephen Norrington and The Book of Eli's Albert Hughes.
Waititi became involved with the Akira adaptation in 2017 to direct and co-write. A release was also eyed for 2021, but those plans were shuffled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Waititi's continued obligations to the Thor films. Unfortunately, Warner Bros. Let the rights lapse, and the push for the long-gestating adaptation ended, ultimately allowing Waititi to shift his focus to Judge Dredd. Thankfully, Akira and Judge Dredd share some stylistic and tonal similarities, meaning that Waititi's almost 8 years on the anime adaptation could be perfect fuel to channel into his comic-inspired dystopia.
Judge Dredd Has A Dark Sense Of Humor, Where Waititi Can Thrive
It Will Be A Balancing Act, But Waititi Has Surprised Before
The Judge Dredd comics have a dark sense of humor. While past film adaptations have kept this to a minimum, there are small moments in both Sylvester Stallone's and Karl Urban's iterations where the character delivers serious lines meant to have a darkly funny lean. Many are concerned that Judge Dredd's often bleak world and dark humor may not be the right fit for Waititi, but he has shown his ability to balance these things in the past.
Thor: Ragnarok deals with the death of Odin and Asgard, playing into deeply tragic elements while also being action-packed and funny. It is far more humorous than a Judge Dredd film should be, and highlights a stellar balancing act. Jojo Rabbit pulled off a similar feat, as it was a comedic drama set during the horrific events of World War II. While it picked its moments, often letting the humor feel outlandish, the movie also delivered on deeply moving scenes and dark jokes involving Hitler. Even the lauded mockumentary, What We Do in the Shadows, makes light of the violence and killing of people for the vampires to feed.
While Waititi needs to show restraint and not let the humor dominate the narrative, his style of comedy could work perfectly. As long as the director can attune his sensibilities to the world of Judge Dredd while not butchering the key facets of the character, fans may be in for another spectacular outing for the character, much like 2012's fan-favorite entry, Dredd.
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