Lena Headey to Play Karl Urban’s Main Adversary in ‘Dredd’

Olivia Thirlby co-stars in Pete Travis’ futuristic action movie

"The Sarah Connor Chronicles" star Lena Headey is going from heroine to villainess, as the actress has been cast as Karl Urban's main adversary in Pete Travis' futuristic action film "Dredd," Headey's representation at CAA has confirmed to TheWrap.

Urban ("Star Trek") is set to star as the justice-seeking anti-hero Judge Dredd, while Olivia Thirlby was previously cast as his psychic-powered sidekick.

Sylvester Stallone originated the role on the big screen in a miserable 1995 adaptation of the popular comic book.

The latest version will find Headey playing Ma-Ma, the matriarch of a drug gang that deals the reality-altering narcotic SLO-MO from its headquarters in Peace Tree City Block, where most of the film is set.

Alex Garland ("Never Let Me Go") wrote the screenplay, which initially described Ma-Ma as an overweight and heavily-scarred woman in her late 50s/early 60s. It remains unclear whether the role will be rewritten for the British actress.

Aside from "The Sarah Connor Chronicles," Headey is best known for playing Queen Gorgo in Zack Snyder's "300." She's also set to star in HBO's highly-anticipated new series "Game of Thrones."

Production on the DNA Films project is currently underway in South Africa, and Lionsgate is expected to release "Dredd" in 2012.

In addition to CAA, Headey is represented by Troika and TMT Entertainment Group, and her casting was first reported on a Judge Dredd fansite.

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