Judge Dredd Officially Returns In 2027 As 50th Anniversary Kicks Off

Created by writer John Wagner and artist Carlos Ezquerra, Judge Dredd has cemented itself as one of the most iconic characters in fiction. First appearing in the second issue of the British weekly anthology comic 2000 AD, he soon became the magazine's longest-serving character, even going on to star in his own dedicated title, Judge Dredd Megazine.

Now almost 50 years on from Judge Dredd's first appearance in 2000 AD, an anniversary release is now available courtesy of independent creative games studio, Rebellion. As part of a year full of celebrations, Rebellion is on the hunt for partnerships to help celebrate 2000 AD, and more specifically, Judge Dredd himself.

Rebellion, which is best known for its flagship “Sniper Elite” series as well as being a top publisher and developer, has now turned its attention to the celebration of 2000 AD, which is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027. On top of that, 2000 AD is expected to hit the big screen courtesy of a feature film based on the beloved comic strip. Written and directed by Duncan Jones, and titled Rogue Trooper, it will star Aneurin Barnard, Hayley Atwell, Jack Lowden, Daryl McCormack, Sean Bean and Reece Shearsmith, marking quite a stacked cast for a small story that began half a century ago.

“Between Alien Deathstorm and the 50th anniversary of ‘2000 AD,’ we’re pulling together fans new and old with immersive content across page, screen and real life,” says Victoria Justice, director, consumer products, e-commerce, Rebellion. “The next couple of years will be the most exciting time to partner with Rebellion.”

On top of that, Rebellion's call for partnerships has come through, with multiple licensed partners and retailers set to celebrate the upcoming anniversary, including Rubber Road, Ingram, Artlume, 101 Collectibles, Thorpy FX, Forbidden Planet, IGN Store, Fanattik, Geeky Jerseys, Hiya Toys, SPACELAB9 and POGO Group. As such, the next year will be full of Judge Dredd-inspired releases, all leading up to the big anniversary.

That includes the launch of a line of natural, sugar-free energy drinks inspired by Judge Dredd which launched back in May courtesy of Sneak Energy. “We’re excited to partner with Judge Dredd, alongside the awesome team at ‘2000 AD’ and Rebellion,” says Tim Donald, chief creative officer, Sneak Energy. “It’s not every day you get to work with such an iconic piece of comic book history. Celebrating pop culture fandom through creative-first partnerships is a big part of what we do at Sneak, and this one just works on every level. Dredd’s world is bold, unmistakable and packed with attitude — exactly the kind of energy we love to tap into. We can’t wait for fans to see what we’ve put together."

Whilst the 50th anniversary of Judge Dredd's first appearance may not take place until next year, retailers and partners are gearing up to celebrate it in style and we, for one, cannot wait.