The first image of Lord of the Rings and Star Trek star Karl Urban in the upcoming reboot of Judge Dredd has shown up online.

Urban will be playing the same lead role played by Sylvester Stallone in the 1995 adaptation. But while the look of Dredd himself isn’t too different here, it’s been promised that this new movie will not be anything like that attempt, and will be completely and totally faithful to the original comic which debuted in the UK’s 2000 AD magazine.

Along with Urban, the movie also stars Olivia Thirlby (Juno, The Wackness) as Cassandra Anderson, and is currently filming in Johannesburg, South Africa.

You can head on over to the other side now to read the synopsis and check out the first image of Karl Urban as Judge Dredd now!

We’ve been hearing quite a bit about the brand new Judge Dredd lately, starting with the news that Karl Urban would be starring in the lead once filled by Sylvester Stallone and the recent announcement that Juno star Olivia Thirlby was joining him as Cassandra Anderson.

The latest bit of news is a minor title change. Instead of going with the name Judge Dredd, and risking more association with the 1995 movie they’re trying so hard to separate themselves from, this new take will now simply be called Dredd.

The movie will be a dark and gritty R-rated new take on the original comic series, which debuted in the late ’70s as part of the UK’s 2000 AD magazine.

A new actor has joined the cast of Judge Dredd, the new adaptation of the original UK comic that has nothing to do with the cheesy 1995 movie. It’s being reported that Olivia Thirlby has signed on and will play Cassandra Anderson, a rookie with telepathic abilities who will work with the Judge.

We recently found out that Lord of the Rings and Star Trek star Karl Urban would be playing the title role after many rumors had pinned him to the role (Read: “˜Lord Of The Rings’ Star Karl Urban Confirmed As The New “˜Judge Dredd’). We’ve also learned that the new Judge Dredd will be directed by Pete Travis (Vantage Point, Endgame) and production will begin in Johannesburg, South Africa later this year.

Rumors have been swirling lately that Karl Urban was in line to take on the title role in the new Judge Dredd remake, and the actor wasn’t necessarily denying them at the recent San Diego Comic-Con 2010. Now comes word out of Movie-Con III (via Empire) that the rumors have evolved to reality, and Urban will be stepping into the shoes once worn by Sylvester Stallone in the 1995 movie of the same name.

Now, if you’re a fan of the ’95 movie, this might not be the best news to you, but let’s be honest: that was a fairly cheesy adaptation of a popular comic book series. The comic, created by John Wagner, Pat Mills, and Carlos Ezquerra, has been featured in the UK’s weekly comic book publication 2000 AD since its debut in 1977. It takes place in a futuristic world where judges are basically super-cops who apprehend, pass judgment upon, and even execute those that they find guilty.

2000AD and Judge Dredd celebrate 30 years on the Newsstand AND Reveal the Origins of a Comics Icon!

Sat in my lounge, a huge plate of Nachos topped with salsa and cheese all to myself (with chilis and hot-hot sauce as a side) with a film-fest of Halloween/Friday the 13th/Blade Runner/Amityville Horror playing in the background throughout a lazy Sunday afternoon sets the perfect geeky-tone for what is about to follow “¦

“¦ The Origins of the Illustrious Judge Dredd!

I will forewarn you now and say that this is NOT a spoiler. Moreover, an opinion on what is potentially the story that fans have been waiting a long while for.

Judge Dredd and 2000AD are landmark respected Weekly British Comic Anthologies that have survived the harsh landscape of U.S. invasion comics for the last 30-plus years. Judge Dredd is a lawman in the future. He operates in Mega-City One. The year: 2128 AD.