Actor Karl Urban takes his roles very seriously, but he once took it too far with his performance in Dredd (2012). Although this movie was quite entertaining, not a lot of people remember about it. It received an IMDb rating of 7.1 out of 10.

In the movie, Urban plays the role of Judge Dredd from the 2000 AD comic strip of the same name. Judge Dredd is a heartless law enforcer who investigates three brutal murders with his partner, Cassandra in a post-nuclear war dystopic wasteland. During the filming of the movie, Urban was so dedicated to his character that he refused to smile and kept this serious tone that his character carried.

Karl Urban took his character seriously

Karl Urban as Judge Dredd in Dredd (2012)
There is no doubt that actor Karl Urban is one of the best actors who emerged in the last two decades. One can clearly witness it in his performances. He takes his roles very seriously, and that’s exactly what he proved on the sets of Dredd (2012).

In an old interview, Urban explained that he was so dedicated to the role that he refused to smile or take the helmet off while filming the movie. He spoke with an American accent and walked around with a serious face just like his character. He also insisted on riding the Lawmaster motorcycle himself just to stay in character.

A cast member made a joke that made everyone laugh on the set, however, Urban then gave him the ‘Dredd’ stare, forcing the cast member to apologize. Dredd (2012) is available to stream on Hulu.

Karl Urban gained popularity in the 2000s

Karl Urban as Billy Butcher
Although Karl Urban became a known name in the 2000s, he started acting in the late 1980s with appearances in various small New Zealand television shows. Urban’s first Hollywood role came in the 2002 horror film Ghost Ship.

He gained worldwide recognition after he portrayed Éomer in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The fans loved the actor’s energy and wanted to see more of him. He then played the role of Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy in J.J. Abrams’ rebooted Star Trek film series, once again becoming a fan-favorite.

Since then the actor has starred in several hits like Red (2010), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Bent (2018), and Doom (2005). In recent years, Urban gained a lot of popularity thanks to his role as Billy Butcher in the popular series, The Boys, based on the comic book by Garth Ennis.

With his impressive range and ability to captivate audiences, Urban has established himself as a highly respected actor in the entertainment industry.

Source: IMDb