@englishpremier I agree, it's not definite either copied the other, it is just highly suspect that Dredd's script was leaked and then The Raid goes into production. While I can believe that the overall premise could have been a coincidence, the opening scenes of the gang member executions are just way too similar for me to believe Evans accidentally wrote the same setup.
The fight choreography Evans was working on prior to The Raid was originally for a sequel to 2009's Merantau, it was well received and the appetite was big for a follow up. This choreography was pivoted to The Raid once they started production. I was nerding hard
after Merantau and following sequel news closely.
All that aside, they're both cracking films, similarities aside, they're different enough in the end result to be enjoyed in their own rights. It's a shame they forced a 3D release for Dredd in the cinema which killed it's box office performance and any chance of a sequel. Also a shame Garland never got the original directing credit after completing the movie when Pete Travis lost control.