While the 2012 version of Dredd maintained a very solid footing in the realm of dystopian sci-fi, this story would’ve lunged headfirst into the fantasy genre.
Dredd was already a hard sell on mainstream audiences (primarily due to poor marketing) and this likely would’ve been even more difficult.
It’s not that surprising to learn that FOX wasn’t overly eager to delve into a Judge Death storyline.
The character is a supernatural entity from another dimension where the very act of living has been declared a crime.