ZACH SNYDER TO DIRECT WATCHMEN FOR WARNERS

[MattBrady]

It’s a story that clearly seems to be a challenge to adapt to film, but now, according to The Hollywood Reproter, that’s what director Zach Snyder’s job is, as the young director was named by Warner Bros. as the helmer of the movie version of the Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons classic graphic novel.

Larry Gordon and Lloyd Levin are producing with Alex Tse writing a script based on the comic. According to the trade, Warner Bros. executives were impressed with Snyder’s handling of the adaptation for film of Frank Miller’s 300, and that landed him the job.

If Snyder stays on the project (and given that the film version of Watchmen has seen Terry Gilliam, Darren Aronofsky, Paul Greengrass and screenwriter David Hayter, as well as three studios attached at one time or another, that’s a realistic statement, not a sarcastic one), he’ll have his hands full from the word go – as the press will surely chase Moore down for quotes about his dislike of adaptations of his works, as well as cutting what is arguably one of the more complex examples of comic literature into a two hour film that has commercial appeal.

[Impulse2k1]

As long as it not Uwe Bowels I'm cool

[jasonm]

I hate to do the whole "the book is better then the movie" bits, but I just can't see how the book will be successfully adapted. It's themes and characters are to complex to do it justice.

[nyhardcore]

I wish they'd just give up on trying to make this movie, already.

[Zool]

I've seen the Dawn of The Dead remake, which was not unwatcheable but totally redundant, but until I see something from Snyder that shows a bit of range (300, and if IMDB is right a Rainbow Six adaptation are both in the works from him) I can't take this news with anything but extreme suspicion.

[MCaputo]

Why, oh why?

Actually, why doesn't Warner Bros. get one of the cable companies to buy it and run it as a minseries?
Hell, how about the Sci-Fi Channel? They've done well with the Dune minis. And, let's be honest, as many fans as Watchmen has and how great it is, I think the Dune fans are a bit more fan-atical about their book.

[grantg]

I really wish Warner Bros. would turn this over to HBO. Twelve issues of the comic = twelve episodes of a mini-series on HBO. Band of Brothers is an excellent example of what I'm talking about.

Edit: Looks like MCaputo and I were posting at the same time.

[Jigokuman]

NNNNNNOOOOOOO!!!

A Watchmen movie is like a Citizen Kane comic book. Who gives a flying f·%&.

[Faithless]

A mini-series of Watchmen would be an awesome idea ... Plus, think of the DVD set sales following its run! You'd think HBO or someone els would be salivating with thoughts of those potential dollars in their pockets!

[Jay Carvajal]

Yeah, I'm not really sure how you can cram everything into a 2 or 3 hour movie. They should have definitely gone the HBO or Sci-fi route.

[Squashua]

Turn it over to HBO and let them ANIMATE it.

[Prometheus3]

Originally Posted by nyhardcore

I wish they'd just give up on trying to make this movie, already.

You and me both. I wish they would just quit trying to ruin this classic comic book.

[Northstar04]

[QUOTE.....as well as cutting what is arguably one of the more complex examples of comic literature into a two hour film that has commercial appeal.[/quote]

The above will be the biggest challenge, in addition to casting, in my humble opinion. I don't think Moore is filmable, but I do hope Hollywood proves me wrong and that the film finds some success, and in doing so will attract new readers into the fold.

[Shadowcards]

Or at least make it a trilogy.

[DAV!S]

I don't think there will ever be an announcement about the Watchmen film that will make fans go "Oh cool! Can't wait!". (Rightly so)

[MCaputo]

Originally Posted by grantg

I really wish Warner Bros. would turn this over to HBO. Twelve issues of the comic = twelve episodes of a mini-series on HBO. Band of Brothers is an excellent example of what I'm talking about.

Edit: Looks like MCaputo and I were posting at the same time.

Looks more like great minds think alike, brother.

[Evil Twin]

We'll see, but I can't see it being any better than a grown up version of The Incredibles.

And, honestly, Watchmen takes perfect advantage of the medium it was created in. There's no way that a faithful adaptation can be as groundbreaking in the use of its medium. Watchmen without the nine panel grid is like Shakespeare without iambic pentameter or rhyming couplets. Certainly there have been successful Shakespeare adaptations that have done the latter, Ran and Throne of Blood spring to mind, but I'd think everyone would agree that they're hardly faithful or representative of reading or seeing the original plays.

[jaredgood1]

Given how much Warner bastardized V (movie looked great, but totally missed the spirit and message of the book), I have VERY little confidence in this being done properly. The problem is that the adaptations alwasy dumb down Moore's material.

[MarcD]

I wish they'd just leave this alone.
It just shouldn't be a movie.

[Poolman]

Originally Posted by Prometheus3

You and me both. I wish they would just quit trying to ruin this classic comic book.

Count me in, in the same exact feeling.

Watchmen is a complete work, everything is explained in it's pages, we don't need a movie.

[swol]

If you have to film this, then that's the only way to make this and have it make any sense.

Less than that and you have to cut massive amounts of scenes.
That would not always be bad EXCEPT that this is one series where virtually all the scenes are important.

Kind ultra-compression if you will.
The exact opposite of what many comics are doing now.

Even trying to cram one issue into only an hour would be tough.

I am deeply concerned about the outcome of this.

[samnoir]

I've been watching the online clips about the production of 300, and hoping that it's as good a Frank Miller adaptation as Sin City was.

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[G Dog]

Originally Posted by Prometheus3

You and me both. I wish they would just quit trying to ruin this classic comic book.

Anyone care to explain to me how a movie will ruin the comic? Is there any possible way for that to happen, short of a semi truck carrying all the prints of the movie crashing into a semi truch carrying ever copy of the comic in existance as well as all the film/original art and igniting into a ball of flames?

[MarcD]

Originally Posted by G Dog

Anyone care to explain to me how a movie will ruin the comic? Is there any possible way for that to happen, short of a semi truck carrying all the prints of the movie crashing into a semi truch carrying ever copy of the comic in existance as well as all the film/original art and igniting into a ball of flames?

Public Perception.
If the public sees a crappy movie then they automatically assume the book was crap.
See League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

[Commander X]

First off, I'm shocked they're still even considering doing a film based on Watchmen; I really thought this project was long dead. My second thought, just like nearly everybody else, was to condemn this film. Then I stopped and thought for a moment: Yes, this movie will be nowhere near as good as the original comic. Probably won't even come close, the original is just too densely written and drawn. But it WILL expose more people to Watchmen, who will hopefully run down to Borders or Barnes & Noble or wherever and READ it. After Vendetta came out, my local bookseller loaded the racks with the original Moore work, the same would happen after this film was released. A horrific film won't change OUR minds about how good the book is, but folks without our preconceived notions about Watchmen might get enough out of it to seek out the book.

...or maybe not. But with luck, some good will come of it, because apparently Warner Bros. is more determined than I thought to milk this particular cash-cow.