SYNDER DEBUTS FIVE WATCHMEN CHARACTERS

[MattBrady]

On his Watchmen Production Blog, Director Zack Snyder (300) has published five "first look" images of cast members of Warner Bros. March 2009 big-screen adaptation of Watchmen. The film is based on writer Alan Moore (V for Vendetta, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) and artist Dave Gibbons’ seminal 1986-87 comic book series published by DC Comics.

Set in 1985, in an alternative reality where the United States and the Soviet Union are on the brink of nuclear war, Watchmen tells the story of group of costumed superheroes, each with very real personal problems and human failings, and the events surrounding the mysterious murder of one of their own.

"Here we are, officially one year and counting until the release of Watchmen on 03.06.09," writes Snyder on his bog. "Being a fan that follows production blogs, I know that the time a film is in post can often seem like an eternity with interesting bits of information few and far between. So to help pass the time, here is your first look at some of the Watchmen characters."

The characters depicted include (in left-to-right order):

First Row

Ozymandias (played by actor Matthew Goode)

Nite Owl (Patrick Wilson)

Second Row

Silk Spectre (Malin Akerman)

Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley)

The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan)

[left-click on the images to open larger versions in a new window]

[DiscoVietnam]

Looks pretty good! Very atmospheric pics.

[mrbones]

Looks like the sequel 2 "Batman and Robin" ugh!!

[Punchy]

I dig them all except Ozymandias, he should be more flowing.

But Rorschach is perfect.

[bsmith]

Originally Posted by Punchy

I dig them all except Ozymandias, he should be more flowing.

But Rorschach is perfect.

Agreed, Rorschach's great, and the Comedian looks absolutely stellar.

Ozy should indeed be brighter and more flowing. Nite Owl looks a bit too ripped, but maybe the actor will play it down a bit, he's a good one.

[Uthor]

A lot darker than what I was imagining. Not a big fan of Ozymandias' look. He looks too much like a villian to be the guy who is about to usher in world wide peace. "They" managed to make The Owl a lot less ridiculous looking.

[Xero]

Uggghhh, well I think this looks like crap, they only seem to have gotten Rorsach and Silk Specter down, the rest look like S&M knockoffs of Batman. The Comedian is the only guy here who should be in leather, and even with that, he should be decked out in a regular cloth domino mask. Ozymandias' costume was a modified Gym tunic, and Night Owl should not be in a muscle suit.

At least I now know to avoid this flick.

[Cray_ws]

While I understand the desire to be true to the comicbook, some of these costumes look way over the top, especially the Comedian's mask. it would've been more practical if he just had facepaint instead rubbery prostetics glued to his face.

I'm curious to see if this movie treats the material seriously or delibraterly goes overboard to get the film's point across.

[miah]

i gotta see Dr Manhattan. i gotta see that dinger.

[cap infinity]

I hope this movie kicks ass to shut the complainers up.

[Redcape]

Wow. I'm impressed. I was expecting costumes nowhere near the originals. These are awesome. I cannot wait for this.

[Dilutral]

looks great I really like NiteOwl's costume

[Prof. Warren]

The look of Nite-Owl has me fearing for this adaptation. I guess no one involved in this production understood that Nite-Owl shouldn't look so bad-ass. He's supposed to be shlubby, overweight, he's supposed to have that middle-aged spare tire around his waist. That's kind of the point. I'm sure the folks involved with bringing this to the screen couldn't wrap their head around that important character detail. And Ozymandias is supposed to be this beautific blond paragon of perfection, not some sullen glowering jerk.

On the upside, Comedian and Rorschach look great. Of course, they already had that dark angle to them that needed no explaning to the people making this. "Dark? Great! Dark is cool - we get that!" And Silk Spectre, well - you can't go too wrong with a hot chick, right?

I really would love this to be a great movie but these pics kind of confirm to me that Zack Synder and co. may have read Watchmen, but they sure didn't understand it.

[Chris Noeth]

This images and the characters look way better than I've expected. I really wondered how this movie will look like after 300 but now I think it will look cool.

I'm looking forward to this and I hope the story will be not to exotic for the normal audience.

Best,

Chris

[dangertroy]

These pics are interesting but they don't really give too much insight into how the film will be. It looks like it will be quite slick, but I want a more dirty, lived in sortof world. this looks gritty, but the cleanest gritty I've ever seen.

I can't wait to be disappointed by this film!

[sinosleep]

Originally Posted by Prof. Warren

The look of Nite-Owl has me fearing for this adaptation. I guess no one involved in this production understood that Nite-Owl shouldn't look so bad-ass. He's supposed to be shlubby, overweight, he's supposed to have that middle-aged spare tire around his waist. That's kind of the point. I'm sure the folks involved with bringing this to the screen couldn't wrap their head around that important character detail. And Ozymandias is supposed to be this beautific blond paragon of perfection, not some sullen glowering jerk.

On the upside, Comedian and Rorschach look great. Of course, they already had that dark angle to them that needed no explaning to the people making this. "Dark? Great! Dark is cool - we get that!" And Silk Spectre, well - you can't go too wrong with a hot chick, right?

I really would love this to be a great movie but these pics kind of confirm to me that Zack Synder and co. may have read Watchmen, but they sure didn't understand it.

Or maybe it's the fact that while they tried to remain true to the comic (Rorscach, Comedian, Silk Spectre 'doesn't match it exactly but it looks great'), a fat man in tights simply DOES NOT WORK in hollywood. It'd be getting more laughs than Hancock will.

[David_T]

Originally Posted by Prof. Warren

The look of Nite-Owl has me fearing for this adaptation. I guess no one involved in this production understood that Nite-Owl shouldn't look so bad-ass. He's supposed to be shlubby, overweight, he's supposed to have that middle-aged spare tire around his waist.

And the Comedian's supposed to be dead. It could simply be a shot of Nite-Owl in his prime, pre-pillow down the front.

[ClaudioPozas]

Originally Posted by Prof. Warren

The look of Nite-Owl has me fearing for this adaptation. I guess no one involved in this production understood that Nite-Owl shouldn't look so bad-ass. He's supposed to be shlubby, overweight, he's supposed to have that middle-aged spare tire around his waist. That's kind of the point. I'm sure the folks involved with bringing this to the screen couldn't wrap their head around that important character detail. And Ozymandias is supposed to be this beautific blond paragon of perfection, not some sullen glowering jerk.

On the upside, Comedian and Rorschach look great. Of course, they already had that dark angle to them that needed no explaning to the people making this. "Dark? Great! Dark is cool - we get that!" And Silk Spectre, well - you can't go too wrong with a hot chick, right?

I really would love this to be a great movie but these pics kind of confirm to me that Zack Synder and co. may have read Watchmen, but they sure didn't understand it.

Anyone considered these might be pictures of the Watchmen during their heyday? Nite Owl used to be very well trained (and the Comedian used to be, y'know, alive).

As for those of you complaining about Ozimandias, remember how, in the comic, he wore a golden suit underneath the purple tabard. The comic book art would translate to a golden body armor.

[canugrok]

Originally Posted by cap infinity

I hope this movie kicks ass to shut the complainers up.

Thank you.

A few pictures, and some are ready to throw the film away?

wow.

[grandpaboy]

you will have to gouge my eyes out, put them in a jar and carry them to the movie theater before I see this piece of crap.

Watchmen - amongst many other things - is about comics and has no business being 'adapted' in to a movie unless said movie intends to make a comment on film, in the same fashion that Alan Moore's comic is making a comment on comic books.

This looks like another waste of all our collective enthusiasm about comics and comic culture.

Alan, if you are out there, I'm so sorry...

[lombardo]

i just wish Ozy wasnt looking so ... villainous ...

other than that. i'm good! wonder if we'll see Comedian's full-face wrestling-bondage mask with zipper?

guessing we wont. be cool, but

[Giorgio]

"THIS IS SPARTA!" - - - > "THIS IS ARCHIE!"

[JetSpandex]

There are a few things that are certain about this movie

1) Alan Moore will hate it, as he sits in his golden chair pronouncing judgement.

2) Hardcore fans will hate it.

3) Ill probably love it, as I loved V.

It will be one more example of the jagged truth that comics fans can not seem to accept. Some comics do not and will not translate into a film without some retooling. Its the old "batman doesnt wear body armor" thing. In a fim, him dodging bullets in a cloth oufit would just look ridiculous, and as someone pointed out here, nite owl with a spare tire would look really stupid.

Of course it begs the question should the thing be made into a film in the first place. My answer to that would be that if the industry as a whole intends to survive, then it needs the revenue from big budget adaptations.

And as for Alan Moore. That guy hates everything. Seriously. I have no time for him as a person. His work is mighty, but his attitude stinks.

[stvnhthr]

I think they look great. Nice translation from page to screen. It is always a challenge to remain faithful to the source material, but yet adapt it for the proper medium. Great work. I was really afraid the owl would look cheesey, but this puts my mind at ease.

[Spidey616]

Originally Posted by mrbones

Looks like the sequel 2 "Batman and Robin" ugh!!

That's exactly what I thought when I first saw them. But I'll wait for the final product before dumping it in the same category as Batman and Robin.