It seems that this project has finally emerge from development hell. It was confirmed today that Zach Snyder will be helming the Alan Moore adaptation. More info can be found at Aint-it-Cool-News. Also, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Alex Tse is writing the script.

-Zavier  

Unproduced first draft screenplay written by Sam Hamm

http://www.simplyscripts.com/cgi-bin/search.pl?search=watchmen

Quint from Aint-it-Cool-News recently interviewed Zack Snyder at Comic-Con and Watchmen came up (about halfway through the interview). Check it out here.

-Zavier

I was thinking about making a spoof kind of like george did with the godfather with the Watchmen.  I had all the characters planned out, but then I decided to work on a feature instead.

I hope this movie turnns out good.  Loved the graphic novel.

Oooh Zack Snyder is apart of this one? I loved how he did Dawn of the Dead '04 and so I'm looking forward to this one.

Sean

You can read an interview with Zack Snyder about the movie 300 and Watchmen here

-Chris

Tom Cruise is Ozymandias in Zack Snyder’s Watchmen?  No, but almost.

Quoted Text “He was interested,” Snyder confirmed to me. “I did talk to him about it for a while.” And would the role he wanted be Ozymandias? “That would be the role,” Snyder said.

If you’re eager for more news of Watchmen, including talk of the film’s rating, click here.

-Zavier

Tom Cruise would not be among my top choices for Ozymandias.  He's not attractive enough for the role.

My picks for the movie (a game I've been playing for 20 years)

Ozymandias:  Jude Law or Ewan McGregor;
Nite Owl (II):  Bill Pullman;
Rorschach:  William F. Macy or Aiden Quinn;
Silk Spectre (I):  Kathy Bates
Silk Spectre (II):    Winona Ryder;
Doctor Manhattan:  CGI;
The Comedian:  Burt Reynolds (who else, really?)



Phil

I'm a big fan of Watchmen and even took a shot at adapting the series in the form of half-hour script episodes, updated to today.  I didn't submit any because, well, I didn't have the nerve to.

My choices for the cast:

Rorschach: David Caruso (though I never thought of Aidan Quinn...good call)

Ozymandias:  This is the toughest one for me.  Pretty boy, master athlete, genius; can't think of any actor who fits all three.   I would go with a token Brad Pitt vote, but I don't want to be made fun of.

Night Owl:  Nicolas Cage.  Give him a gut.

Silk Spectre (I):  Sally Kirkland.

Silk Spectre (II):  Ashley Judd.  Or maybe Hilary Swank (don't hate me).

Doctor Manhattan:  Agreed -- CGI.  Voiced by Phil Lamarr (yes, the MadTV guy -- have you seen his list of voice actor creds??? )  

The Comedian: Tom Selleck.  

Yesterday, Superhero Hype! posted an R-rated 300 trailer (view here) and it turns out that director Zack Snyder included an easter egg in the clip - your first look at his next project, Watchmen.

CHUD caught it first and now Ain't It Cool News has an even bigger version of the test image of Rorschach in Watchmen that appears at the 1 minute and 52 second mark.


-Zavier    

Nice shot of Rorschach.

other cast possibilities:

Dr. Manhattan (voice):  Clancy Brown

Comedian:  Stacy Keach



Phil

Watchmen Cast Confirmed!

Quoted from The Hollywood Reporter Warner Bros. Pictures has confirmed the cast for Watchmen, the big screen adaptation of the seminal DC Comics limited series. Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley, Matthew Goode, Billy Crudup, Jeffrey Dean Morgan ("Grey's Anatomy") and Malin Akerman will star in the Warner Bros. movie, which Zack Snyder is directing. Larry Gordon, Lloyd Levin and Deborah Snyder are producing. Set in an alternate America, Watchmen follows costumed hero Rorschach, who is living a vigilante lifestyle because most masked heroes have retired or been outlawed. While investigating a murder, Rorschach learns that a former masked-hero colleague has been killed, prompting him to begin investigating a possible conspiracy. Haley will play Walter Kovacs, aka Rorschach, who ignores the ban on costumed vigilantes. Crudup will play Dr. Manhattan, a superpowered being with godlike powers and temperament. Akerman will play Laurie Juspeczyk/the Silk Spectre, who is involved with Dr. Manhattan -- but that relationship begins to fall apart as he becomes more disconnected from humanity. Goode will play Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias, a costumed adventurer who retired voluntarily, disclosed his identity and built a large fortune. He hatches a plot to avert a global catastrophe he believes will be caused by Dr. Manhattan. Wilson will play the Nite-Owl, a crime-figher who uses technical wizardry and has an owl-shaped flying vehicle. Morgan will play the Comedian, a cigar-chomping, gun-toting vigilante-turned-paramilitary agent.

After looking up the cast, I can tell that this will be another movie that creator Alan Moore will not want his name attached to.  I recommend that everyone pick up the graphic novel, rather than see this movie.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe After looking up the cast, I can tell that this will be another movie that creator Alan Moore will not want his name attached to.

Agreed.  Who the hell are these people?  Couldn't they get some names?

Who suggested Tom Selleck?  That was Lon, right?

That's f-ing brilliant.  And really -- how much would he have cost, huh?  

Quoted from dogglebe I recommend that everyone pick up the graphic novel...

Make that a double, too.  Dynamite stuff.

Quoted from bert Agreed.  Who the hell are these people?  Couldn't they get some names?

Apparently, Tom Cruise, Keanu Reeves, Jude Law and a few other big names were interested, though they walked away when it became clear that the studio was holding the line on the budget.

The only one that kinda makes sense to me is Jackie Earle Haley as Rorshach.  He's got a weird enough look to him that if you pop on some red hair I think he'd look pretty good.

Silk Spectre will do once the hair is dyed.  The others seem way off to me, unless Crudup is just doing VO for a CGI Dr. Manhattan.

I think James Remar would have been pretty good as The Comedian.

Quoted from dogglebe After looking up the cast, I can tell that this will be another movie that creator Alan Moore will not want his name attached to.  I recommend that everyone pick up the graphic novel, rather than see this movie. Phil

Yes, unlike all the other adaptations of Moore's work he was over the moon about.

Moore is a bitter weirdo these days, and he's gonna be pissed no matter who's in the movie. Personally, I'm happy they're getting relatively unknowns so that they may spend more money on stuff like effects and production values.

Patrick Wilson and Billy Crudup er very fine actors, and Morgan was pretty good on Supernatural.

I don't understand what people want with names anyway. I'd take a good actor over a name any day. Case in point: I don't watch Tom Hanks or Tom Cruise films anymore, because no matter what they do, they're always gonna be Tom hanks and Tom Cruise to me. That's the flip-side of being too famous. Too much of a name.

Jeff Morgan is about twenty years too young to play the Comedian.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe Jeff Morgan is about twenty years too young to play the Comedian. Phil

They'll probably make him look older for "present" scenes.  Most of the Comedian's scenes occurred in flashbacks, so it's not too bad.

I'm willing to bet that they're going to butcher the story to make it fit into the mindless summer blockbuster format.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe I'm willing to bet that they're going to butcher the story to make it fit into the mindless summer blockbuster format. Phil

And I'm willing to bet they turn it into a romantic comedy starring Helen Hunt!

Of course every time someone on the internet is 'willing to bet' how a movie turns out, God chops down another inch of the rainforest.

And every time you masturbate, God kills a kitten!

I don't know if you've read The Watchmen series, but there is a helluva lot of story in it.  Beside the main story (who killed the Comedian), there was also what was happening in the world (the world was on the brink of nuclear annihilation).  There was also the detailed origins of all the characters.  IIRC, every other issue was a spotlight on one of the main characters.

The best I heard regarding The Watchmen was to turn it into a twelve hour mini-series for HBO or Showtime.  This way, you can include every little detail of the story.


Phil

I just pray that they don't add in the black guy reading the comic book about the pirates.

I truly hated that.  Not so much the talking back and forth between him and the newspaper man, but the switching gears into that story.

The pirate represented Ozmandius; it's needed in the story.

I heard somewhere that it will be shot but placed in the Watchmen DVD as extra footage.

I hope they don't cut Rorshach's origin.  He is the best character in the lot.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe And every time you masturbate, God kills a kitten! I don't know if you've read The Watchmen series, but there is a helluva lot of story in it.  Beside the main story (who killed the Comedian), there was also what was happening in the world (the world was on the brink of nuclear annihilation).  There was also the detailed origins of all the characters.  IIRC, every other issue was a spotlight on one of the main characters. The best I heard regarding The Watchmen was to turn it into a twelve hour mini-series for HBO or Showtime.  This way, you can include every little detail of the story. Phil

Then I'm responsible for felinecide.

I haven't read the series but I know how how much ground they need to cover, but then again, they made 3 good movies out of LOTR, even though they left out A LOT. I suppose what we can hope for is the 'real' cut to come on the DVD. Right now, I believe the script for the movie is 140 pages (excluding "Black Freighter").

Filming has begun and the folks over at WatchmenComicMovie.com have already posted some photos from the set.

{don's edit: And they have several scripts. }

I saw the cast list.  I don't know any of these people.

The Lego figurines looked good, though.


Phil

Jackie Earle Haley and Patrick Wilson were both in Little Children.  After seeing that I think they have the chops to pull this off.

I like that Carla Gugino is in it as well, but she seems a bit young to be playing the original Silk Spectre.

The first official still has been released. Fans should probably recognize the scene.

Nice shot!  I wonder if Rorschach's mask will change through out the movie (a la CGI) or if it'll just be a cloth mask.


Phil

Zack Snyder has revealed a first look at five characters on the official website.

Why are there nipples and pecs on Ozymandias suit? I thought Batman and Robin took care of that dreadful thing?

I think it's actually kind of funny on him.  Goes with the vanity.

I noticed Stephen McHattie is in this, but no character name is attached.  Think he's Captain Metropolis?  Is Captain Metropolis even in this?

Looking at the pictures, Oz looks extremely miscast.  The character is supposed to be very attractive; this guy looks creepy.

Rorscharch looks good but his is a very simple costume.  Expec to see a lot of come Halloween.


Phil

Trailer...

http://www.empireonline.com/video/watchmen/

James' link doesn't seem to be working for me.  If that's the case for anyone else, it can also be found here

I thought this trailer blew chunks (and chunks is my dog).  Watching it was like watching the trailer to the next WB teen angst series.


Phil

I think I'm going to agree with dogglebe, the trailer definately wasn't the greatest trailer for the movie.
I have definately been looking forward to this movie, and The Dark Knight, which I am going to see tomorrow at noon.
I believe Zack will do a good job. I enjoyed Dawn of the Dead (2004) and 300. So judging those two movies, I think this one will do very well.

Quoted from dogglebe I thought this trailer blew chunks (and chunks is my dog).  Watching it was like watching the trailer to the next WB teen angst series. Phil

Agreed. I liked a few shots that were in the trailer. But the trailer itself was terrible.

I watched a video on Yahoo about the costumes in the movie.  It turned out, they were referring to the costumes of all the background characters.  No Watchmen uniforms.

I've got a bad feeling about this movie.....


Phil

If anyone hasn't read the graphic novel, it's becoming available on iTunes. The original source is being animated and I think that with the exception of the essays between chapters, it will be the whole book.

The first chapter is up and free. Subsequent chapters I believe will be 1.99. Check out the freebie at least.  25 minutes long and very well done.

The trailer at the beginning of The Dark Knight wasn't all that exciting. The movie has a decent concept but I think it suffers from a bad trailer that doesn't pull in the audience.

Read the comic book.  The movie can't possibly be nearly as good.


Phil

Hey,

I finished reading the comic book yesterday, and although Rorschach is my new favorite superhero, I felt generally let down. Not to say that it wasn't good, I do think is was very good, one could tell that they put a lot of work into it and it was certainly the most sophisticated comic I've ever read, but I guess I was just expecting masterpiece. Maybe it got over hyped for me, or some of it's innovations have become tired in the 20+ years since it's been released.

Anyway, I agree with the others about the trailer. Reading the comic book got me a lot more excited about the movie then the trailer did. I think they really dropped the ball on that. I think a huge part of 300's success was it's fabulous trailer such that I and friends completely unfamiliar with the graphic novel got very excited about it. My experience so far with the watchmen trailer has been fans are very excited and those that are not familiar with it are ehhh... And I would really like this to succeed so that similar projects can be financed.

I'm further discouraged upon hearing that Snyder is fighting with the studios over run time. Apparently he's being pressured to cut cut the  *****Spoiler*** death scene of a certain minutemen found of the night ***end spoiler******

sheepwalker

Well, I’m not as familiar with it as the people here and I liked the trailer. I think the movie looks really good.

I don’t normally read comic books or graphic novels. V For Vendetta was the first - and so far only - graphic novel I ever read. And it was only because I saw the movie and really liked Hugo Weaving - who I think has a sexy voice and a good body.

Anyway, ever since I read the book V For Vendetta, I’ve felt very disappointed in the movie. I felt like they had the perfect guy playing the lead and wasted the opportunity to make a masterpiece. There are parts of the book that just absolutely should have been included in the movie if the filmmakers really gave a shit about making a good movie. The villains in their dark room was just totally lazy writing and filmmaking. I wouldn’t be so bothered were it not for the fact that there were additions to the movie that were rather silly (piggy in a basket comes to mind).

I haven’t read the graphic novel for the Watchmen. I read up a little on the story and I think it sounds very intriguing. As far as the movie, I read some things about the script that I found disturbing. Anytime I read about a script being rewritten by different writers several times, I get concerned. It usually means a disjointed and ultimately unsatisfying story.

But I do think the story sounds intriguing and I do think the trailer looks pretty good. I’m judging it based on what appears to be its emotional content. I like action in movies. And I also like movies that make me cry. This one looks to have lots of action and visual imagery while having a compelling and tragic story.

I have the distinct feeling that we’re looking at another V For Vendetta; a movie that is pretty good but nowhere near as good as it should be. But I personally think the trailer looks pretty good. Plus it’s got Jackie Earle Haley in it so it’ll always have that stroke of genius casting if nothing else.


Breanne

New character posters can be found here

I get the impression that the only thing that might save this movie will be Rorschach, but I might just be getting my hopes up.


Phil

Hey,

Quoted from dogglebe I get the impression that the only thing that might save this movie will be Rorschach, but I might just be getting my hopes up.

Rorschach is enough to save anything. He could save Dawkins at a old timey tent revival. I even think they should give him his own spin off. All Rorschach all the time!

But what about the posters concerns you so much?

I think most of the costume changes are improvements with the possible exception of ozymandias, especially Silk Specter II. Actors are passible with the exception of once again ozymandias and perhaps Nite Owl.  


sheepwalker

The trailer looked like the movie will be about teen angst.  Gossip Girl should be in the movie.

Watchmen has to be gritty.  This doesn't look it.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe Watchmen has to be gritty.  This doesn't look it.

Bullshit...there are shots in the film that are exact replicas of panels from the graphic novel.  I applaud the filmmakers behind this for trying to stay close to the source material.

Hey,

Quoted from dogglebe The trailer looked like the movie will be about teen angst.

Oh, so you weren't talking about the posters?

Alright but how'd you gather teen angst from the trailer? I don't think it's a good trailer but I don't get teen angst at all.

I also lean more towards shelton on the grittiness thing but I see your point. Could be grittier, Rorschach's trench coat looks brand new, but at least they're trying.


sheepwalker    

I don't know anything about the Watchmen other than that it takes place in 1985 on an alternate Earth and that Superheroes have been banned. The film to me, at least the perspective I got from the trailer, is nothing more than a super CGI film.

At this point, I'm not interested. Depending on the reviews, I may wait until it's released on DVD.

The posters don't really float my boat.  They look like alternative covers from the series.

And the grittiness is needed for this story.  The Watchmen, IMHO, is the most realistic superhero comic book story written.  The photos that I've seen look like they were trying to capture the comic book feel a little too much (like 'Dick Tracy').

The trailer looks like the trailer to any of the teen angst shows on the CW.  It just shots of each of the characters put to some lame music.

The back stories are as important as the main one.  The fact that they're going to compress the entire story into two hours(?) says they're going to leave a lot out.  I think it was Terry Gilliam who said that the only way to do this story justice is to make it as a twelve hour mini-series.  That would be incredible.



Phil

I agree with Phil, the film looks far too glossy.

The thing is Watchmen was a comic, so naturally the images are going to look very "comic-booky". However the feel of it was very realistic, it's just that there is a limit to the actual realism you can create with pencil, ink and a limited colour palette.

In sticking so closely to the actual look of the comic, the filmmakers have moved the style away from the intended realism. It's gone from being as realistic as possible (given the constraints) to looking deliberately artificial. There's a subtle difference.

Trailer didn't have enough slow-mo.

i did recently re-read the comic. I think that the character of rorschach will be the best, at least that's the one i'm looking forward.

As for the trailer, it's not that bad, i read that the director will be making some replicas from the comic book, like he did with 300. But i'd rather wait to see it and then comment it.

Haley looks good as Rorschach.  Looks like the character.

I still think the whole thing will suck, but Haley looks good.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe Haley looks good as Rorschach.  Looks like the character. I still think the whole thing will suck, but Haley looks good. Phil

You're very suspicious about the movie aren't you? Why don't wait and see. I'm suspicious myself as well. But i'll wait, i mean who knows???

Every movie that is based on an Alan Moore comic book has been a poor adaptation.  I don't see why this would be any different.  The original mini-series has a lot in it, a lot more than can be put into a two hour movie.


Phil

I've read that the movie will actually be closer to 3 hours, and that the "Black Freighter" portion won't be in the theatrical version.

Three hours is still pushing it.


Phil

The movie is cursed....


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe The movie is cursed.... Phil

Nowhere near the level of this

I would've posted the other three magazine covers showing the others, but I'm only interested in Rorschach.


Phil

The new trailer is up over at over at Yahoo! Movies.

Trailer looked surprisingly good.  Rorsharch make take Wolverine's crown as lead bad-ass.


Phil

Should anyoone be interested in the screenplay... just let me know.  

Just watched the new trailer, looks pretty bad-ass if you ask me... looks a lot better than I was imagining. I love the comic, and feared the worst when I heard it was being adapted into a movie... but this could easily pleasantly surprise me.

And Pia, are you able to email me the script please?

Quoted from Toby_E And Pia, are you able to email me the script please?

Didn't I already send it?  

Trailer from ComicCon

Actually, I thought this was a pretty shitty trailer.  Unless you're familiar with the story, it makes absolutely no sense.  While I liked how Rorsharch's mask did move around, the trailer just didn't do it for me.



Phil

I agree that this was not as good as the first trailer. Btw was this even a trailer? It just looked like a load of short clips slapped together. Also, it was a bit on the long side for a trailer.

Quoted from dogglebe Unless you're familiar with the story, it makes absolutely no sense.

I would think most people at ComicCon had some familiarity with it.

I don't know about that.  The Watchmen came out a long time ago, and I'm sure there were a lot of people who actually haven't read and might just be running on what other people say.

How many, here have and haven't read the series?  Show of hands!

Phil

Sort of an update on the legal battle. Fox says it will try to stop 'Watchmen'

Quoted from AP U.S. District Court Judge Gary Feess last week agreed with Fox that Warner Bros. had infringed its copyright by developing and shooting the superhero flick, scheduled for release March 6. Fox claims it never fully relinquished story rights from its deal made in the late 1980s, and sued Warner Bros. in February. Warner Bros. contended Fox isn't entitled to distribution.

Original article can be found here.

the release date will most likely be pushed back. the legal battle is Fox originally had rights to it but Warner Bros. some how took over, so now Fox is saying they had rights first, and it might be delayed. Which sucks because ive waited 2 years to see it, 2 long years, it really looks amazing

MTV has the first trailer for Tales Of The Black Freighter, here.

A friend has gotten me a Watchmen bus poster.


Phil

Something announced today that I wasn't really expecting: Watchmen's been given an 18 certificate here in the UK!

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/website/.....02c66e9?OpenDocument

It's been passed uncut, but even so - isn't that a slightly strange decision? They're excluding a fair few potential viewers this way. It also means I can't go see it with my 17 year old brother! {Although we may try.) Then again, since Friday the 13th just pulled in a $42m opening weekend, maybe they think it won't make much of a difference.

Anybody interested in watching some ass-whoopin'?

Ah I'm actually excited to see this. Alot of the buzz is highly positive. I think the understanding that it won't be the novel is how I'm heading into it.

Plus Ebert gave it a four star rating and while he is sometimes too generous in his reviews, I find that often he hits the head on the nail for comic book movies.

Ugh.  That clip absolutely reeks of all the things I find problematic with Zack Snyder.  Hopefully the movie itself is good.

that fight scene wasn't that great.  too choppy.  and you can see where they sped up the film.

Looked like a Steven Segal fight scene.


Phil

That girl is Swedish...  

Quoted from Grandma Bear That girl is Swedish...

I'd buy that for a dollar!

I thought the scene looked awesome, myself.  I read Watchmen when it hit the stands.  Let them argue. . .I'll wait.

Quoted from dogglebe that fight scene wasn't that great.  too choppy.  and you can see where they sped up the film.

I just compared it to the scene in the book.

They didn't move at all there.

The scene flowed better in the book than in the movie.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe The scene flowed better in the book than in the movie.

Golly, you sure are a speedy reader.

Quoted from Shelton Golly, you sure are a speedy reader.

If you cross your eyes, then tilt the book back and forth. . . .

I'm not comparing it to the book...I'm comparing it to other action scenes.  And this one just felt, I don't know...boring?  It tries so hard to be cool and then fails equally hard.  It's weird.  I'd say it's like watching a car wreck, but that's something that would actually draw you in and be interesting.

I'm tempted to blame it on the CG, but it's not like I haven't seen great animated action scenes before.  This scene just didn't sell it.  The blows all felt fake, were difficult to even see.  I'd agree with Phil's "choppy" assessment.

Quoted from escapist I'm not comparing it to the book...I'm comparing it to other action scenes.  And this one just felt, I don't know...boring?  It tries so hard to be cool and then fails equally hard.  It's weird.  I'd say it's like watching a car wreck, but that's something that would actually draw you in and be interesting. I'm tempted to blame it on the CG, but it's not like I haven't seen great animated action scenes before.  This scene just didn't sell it.  The blows all felt fake, were difficult to even see.  I'd agree with Phil's "choppy" assessment.

Okay.  I wasn't really looking to debate it with you, or anybody for that matter.  It's a film.  Opinions are plentiful.

LOL.  Never give me an excuse to elaborate, I guess.  

Quoted from escapist LOL.  Never give me an excuse to elaborate, I guess.

Graphic novels still don't move.