Latest news with #Waititi
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Taika Waititi to helm new Judge Dredd film
Taika Waititi is to direct a new Judge Dredd movie. The Thor: Ragnarok filmmaker has been tapped to oversee a new picture featuring the popular British comic book character. Drew Pearce - who has penned action movies such as The Fall Guy and Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation - is set to write the script. Insiders say that Waititi and Pearce are friends who both grew up with the books and have been trying to find a project to collaborate on for several years. Dredd was created in the late 1970s by scribe John Wagner and artist Carlos Ezquerra and debuted in the British weekly anthology comic 2000 AD. He is a police officer in the bleak future metropolis of Mega-City One and is empowered to be judge, jury and executioner. Dredd proved to be a hugely popular character, featuring in several more comic strips, video and board games, books and even postage stamps in the UK. Over 100,000 comics and graphic novels featuring the character are said to have been sold. A Hollywood movie about Dredd was made in 1995 with action legend Sylvester Stallone in the title role, but the film was critically panned. The character returned to the big screen in 2012 for a more positively-received film with Karl Urban starring and a script by 28 Days Later writer Alex Garland. Plot details are yet to be revealed but it is believed to take inspiration from the comics rather than previous movie adaptations - leaning into world-building and dark humour. It is said to be a fun sci-fi blockbuster that is hoped to mark the launch of a Dredd universe that could be expanded with more films and shows on various platforms. Taika has helmed two movies in the Thor franchise but revealed that he had "no interest" in working in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and only accepted the project because he was "poor". The 49-year-old director told the Smartless podcast: "You know what? I had no interest in doing one of those films. It wasn't on my plan for my career as an auteur. "But I was poor and I'd just had a second child, and I thought, 'You know what, this would be a great opportunity to feed these children.'" Waititi added: "And Thor, let's face it – it was probably the least popular franchise. I never read Thor comics as a kid. That was the comic I'd pick up and be like 'Ugh'. And then I did some research on it, and I read one Thor comic or 18 pages, or however long they are." Taika felt that Marvel reaching out to him suggested that they were unsure about what to do with Chris Hemsworth's god of thunder. The Jojo Rabbit director explained: "I think there was no place left for them to go with that. I thought, 'Well, they've called me in, this is really the bottom of the barrel.'"
Geek Tyrant
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
New JUDGE DREDD Movie Being Developed by Taika Waititi and Drew Pearce — GeekTyrant
Mega-City One is getting a fresh dose of law and chaos. According to Deadline, Taika Waititi is set to direct a brand-new Judge Dredd movie, with Drew Pearce writing the script. The project has just hit the market, and while no deals are locked in yet, the creative talent attached makes this a major play for studios. The film is being produced by Chris Kingsley, Jason Kingsley, and Ben Smith of Rebellion Developments, along with Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment, Jeremy Platt, Natalie Viscuso, and Pearce himself. Judge Dredd was created by writer John Wagner and artist Carlos Ezquerra, first appearing in the British comic 2000 AD. The story follows law enforcement officers in the sprawling dystopia of Mega-City One, where Judges act as judge, jury, and executioner. Over the years, Hollywood has tackled the character twice, first in 1995 with Sylvester Stallone, and again in 2012 with Karl Urban's grittier take, which went on to earn cult status despite underperforming theatrically. While details on this new version remain under wraps, insiders hint it will carry some of the lighter, offbeat tone that Waititi is known for. That suggests a fresh spin on the grim, violent world of the Judges, possibly blending satire and humor with the franchise's trademark brutality. With Waititi behind the camera and Pearce ( Iron Man 3, Hotel Artemis ) crafting the story, this could be a very different kind of Judge Dredd film, one that plays into the comic's roots as both ultra-violent and darkly funny. I just thought that Alex Garland's Dredd was awesome, and I would've loved to see that franchise continue with Karl Urban. While attempts were made, I never happened, so… now we're getting another reboot. Would you want to see a Judge Dredd in the style of Waititi?
Scoop
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Son Of Late Takutai Tarsh Kemp Calls For Māori To Register For Voting
The son of Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp who died suddenly last week has called on Māori to sign up to the Māori Roll. The MP for Tāmaki Makaurau was buried at Opaea Marae near Taihape on Monday at a service attended by over 300 people. Kemp is a long way from her Tamaki Makaurau electorate, where she spent much of her life and raised a family - but for Kemp and her whanau, Opaea Marae is home. Her son, Te Manea Kauika-Quinlan said it took the death of his mum for him to realise how much her work resonated with Maori and hoped it did not go to waste. "Now's the time, whānau. Why is it when something like this happens it's the kick up the bum we needed. "I know you're probably sick of hearing it, 'get off the general role, get on the Māori role!'. E whānau, get on the Māori role! Don't let this go to waste," Kauika-Quinlan said. Like his mother, he said Māori had the voting power to tip the scales. "If each and every one of us voted - just us here - that's enough, that's heaps already. I'm no political ideology or anything like that, ko enei ngā kōrero o aku whaea," he said. Among the mourners were Takutai Kemp's colleagues from Te Pati Maori. Co-leader Rawiri Waititi lamented the loss of a good friend and a staunch fighter for Maori. "It's not until people pass away, then you actually know the impact that one has on many lives. "The many stones that are thrown up on the shore of te Takutai Moana," Waititi said. Speaking to the crowd, Waititi said the "power" was "in our hands". "We are not outnumbered. We are out organised. Organise yourselves," he said. A table near the wharekai was set up offering Te Pati Maori merchandise and guidance on how to sign up to the Maori roll. A number of politicans paid their respects at the marae since Kemp arrived on Saturday, including members of National Party and the Greens. "We acknowledge Chloe walking on here with her Māori party beanie on, Peeni Henare sitting on the pae with his Māori party beanie on," Waititi said. "Chris, we look forward to seeing you walk off this marae with your Māori Party beanie on," he said, speaking to Labour leader Chris Hipkins. When it was time for them to meet, Rawiri Waititi told Chris Hipkins he should not turn his head. "She died, and she lived, serving her people, and that mahi must continue. So when this tīwaiwaka, Chris, when have our kōrero, kaua e tahuri atu to kanohi, tahuri mai. "When my face turns to yours, don't turn yours somewhere else," Waititi said. "I am very pleased that the sun has come out, and therefore I can decline your offer of an umbrella. The heat has arrived, and therefore I don't need the beanie - but we always need friends," Hipkins said Hipkins said Labour extended all of its aroha to Kemp's whanau and colleagues. "To Te Pāti Māori, thank you for your manaakitanga today, and genuinely, I say thank you to you, and of course, we extend our aroha to you in Parliament as well. "We look forward Debbie and Rawiri to seeing you back when Parliament resumes," he said. Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp was buried behind the marae, in front of a small church surrounded by her tūpuna. Before she was put to rest, Te Pati Maori sent her off with a song - "Proud to be Māori" by illumiNGĀTI.
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Government Cuts Off Public Voice On Controversial Bill
Te Pāti Māori condemns the Government's decision to restrict oral submissions on the Regulatory Standards Bill to just 30 hours, calling it a deliberate move to shut down dissent. 'This is not a process. It's a purge. The Government is pushing a dangerous law and silencing those who would challenge it' said Te Pāti Māori Co-leader Rawiri Waititi. Despite repeated system failures and hundreds still waiting to be heard, Ministers have refused to extend the deadline. Māori voices, tangata tiriti, constitutional experts, legal academics, unions, and community advocates are being locked out. 'The Crown never intended to listen. They've built a submission process designed to collapse under pressure and it did. Now they're cutting the cord' said Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. 'The Regulatory Standards Bill hands sweeping power to unelected officials and opens the door for corporate veto over worker protections, environmental safeguards, and Te Tiriti rights.' 'This is the machinery of suppression dressed as reform. Thirty hours isn't public consultation it's an alibi' said Waititi. Te Pāti Māori is demanding an immediate extension to the submission timeframe and guarantees that every voice has the right to be heard. 'We will fight this Bill in Parliament, in the courts, and in our communities' said Waititi. 'A government that shuts its ears is not fit to govern.'
Scoop
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Luxon's Complicity Puts Aotearoa At Risk: Te Pāti Māori Stands Against Global Military Aggression
Te Pāti Māori stands firmly against the rising tide of global military aggression. While the Luxon scrambles to appease Trump and Israel, we choose peace, sovereignty, and an independent foreign policy grounded in justice and truth. More than 56,000 Palestinians have been murdered by Israel over the past 20 months. In that time, Israel have launched attacks on Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. These countries have for a long time been barriers to US imperialism in the Middle East. It is why our government remains silent on Israel, and why Judith Collins signed off on $12bn in military spending right before the US bombs Iran. 'When the US bombs Iran, Luxon calls it an 'opportunity'. But when Cook Islanders assert their sovereignty or Chinese vessels travel through international waters, he leaps to condemnation' said Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi. 'Israel continues to maintain an undeclared nuclear arsenal. Yet this Government won't say a word. It condemns non-Western powers at every turn but remains silent when its allies act with impunity.' Te Pāti Māori is reaffirming our position of military neutrality, rejecting participation in imperial alliances, foreign wars, and warmongering masquerading as diplomacy. 'You don't send planes into a war zone 'just in case.' Not without a mandate. Not without telling the people. This Government is dragging us toward World War 3, in secret, without debate, and with zero accountability.' 'Luxon's complicity is putting everyone in Aotearoa at risk.' 'Aotearoa is not a puppet of Western militarism. We do not answer to NATO. We do not answer to the Five Eyes. We answer to our people and our values' said Waititi. 'This Government speaks boldly against the East but cowers before the West. It has no credibility on international law when its outrage is selective, and its silence bought.' 'Te Pāti Māori will not be silent. We will not stand by while bombs fall, sovereignty is trampled, and innocent people are killed. Whether it's in the Middle East, the Pacific, or here at home' concluded Waititi.
