ICONIC comic book hero Judge Dredd could be seen on the streets of Oxford as production starts on a new big-budget TV series.

Oxford-based games developer and publisher Rebellion will take its first foray into the world of television with Judge Dredd: Mega-City One.

CEO of the company Jason Kingsley, who bought comic 2000AD at the turn of the millennium, said there is no limit to the amount of craziness he and his team can come up with.

The show will focus on Dredd’s American city, which has become a crowded and crime-ridden megalopolis.

It will follow the eponymous character and other Judges – futuristic cops invested with the power to be judge, jury, and executioner – as they confront the challenges of the 22nd century.

Mr Kingsley, who has been a reader of 2000AD since it launched in February, 1997, said: “What’s great about Dredd’s world is that it’s huge. There are so many things we can do and a huge menu to build from. It’s very exciting.

“We will base it very firmly on elements of the comic books and include people’s favourite characters – but we don’t want to limit it.

“There’s no limit to the amount of craziness we can come up with.

“As a fan and reader it’s really quite astonishing that I’m in a position to do this kind of stuff.”

Founded in 1992, Rebellion is one of Europe’s leading independent game developers and publishers, but is keen to expand into other media with the creation of Rebellion Productions.

The company has teamed up with studio IM Global to produce the new show, which Mr Kingsley said could be completed in about two years.

A script is now in the works and Rebellion will reveal the stars of the new series, which will be distributed internationally, at a later date.

Mr Kingsley said the series will be shot in the UK - and he hopes he can shoot some of it in Oxfordshire.

He added: “Telly and film is very exciting for us as another way of telling stories. Working on the most recent film we had a good level of input but this time we’re actually in control.

“We make good quality games and we want to make good quality TV.”

The series will mark the first time Judge Dredd and Mega-City One have come to the small screen, following two feature films.

2000 AD is a weekly British anthology comic – the home of Judge Dredd and a galaxy of original sci-fi, fantasy, and horror action stars.

Now celebrating its 40th year, the iconic magazine continues to hit shelves every Wednesday.