The Watchmen Trailer - Who Watches The Watchmen ?

A New Year....

2009-01-04T18:40:00.000-08:00

If you are seeing this message than we have moved to our new site.

Dave and Thomas want to thank everyone who has followed us to our new site at Dave and Thomas Daily Timekillers. It is there that we are gathering volunteers for our Hobo Army to combat boredom, slow work days, zombies, and listlessness.

There you can get the latest pop culture news, movie trailers, television happenings, and funny videos. So head on over and we'll see you soon!

New Watchmen Poster

2008-11-08T21:58:00.000-08:00

A new Watchmen poster is floating around featuring a rainy city street in which Rorschach is seen walking down. Trailer Addict also has a few more images up featuring the different covers re-imagined.

Watchmen Video Journal #5: The Owlship

2008-08-06T17:24:00.000-07:00

Watchmen Video Journal #5: The Owlship

Watchmen Video Journal #4: Gibbons

2008-08-06T17:20:00.000-07:00

Watchmen Video Journal #4: Gibbons takes a peak behind the scenes of the Watchmen movie by talking with the artist of the fantastic graphic novel. Dave Gibbons teamed up with Alan Moore to create the original masterpiece and takes a trip to the movie set to talk about the sets and look of the movie with director Zack Snyder.

Watchmen Video Journal #3: Stunts

2008-08-06T17:17:00.000-07:00

Watchmen Video Journal #3: Stunts takes a look behind the scenes of the Watchmen movie with the stunts of the movie. The Prison scene of the movie is highlighted as the crew sets a man on fire.

Watchmen Video Journal #2: Costume Design

2008-08-06T17:15:00.000-07:00

Watchmen Video Journal #2: Costume Design takes a look behind the scenes of the costumes of the Watchmen Movie.

Watchmen Video Journal #1: Sets and Sensibility

2008-08-06T17:12:00.000-07:00

Watchmen at Comic-Con: Video and Pictures of Nite Owl's Ship

2008-07-26T23:45:00.000-07:00

Brad Brevet from Rope of Silicon has landed a killer video and pictures of "Archie," the Nite Owl's ship from the upcoming "Watchmen" movie. Be sure to check out his entire gallery of the ship.

The Watchmen Crash Comic-Con

2008-07-26T20:45:00.000-07:00

Many disappointed Watchmen fans were turned away from a full crowd as the Watchmen panel further explored the alternative world of the 1980's at the 2008 Comic Con in San Diego. Last year the crew unveiled a poster for the movie. This year they showed more detailed clips and talked about the mature aspect of the movie.

One notable point is that Zack Snyder claims the Watchmen is hovering around the 3 hour mark right now. He mentions that the Warner Bros. Studio wants that trimmed down to 2.5 hours by release date which already has die-hard fans mentioning a director's cut.

Snyder's doing a fantastic job of P.R. with the movie by keeping interest for the fans who are aiming for the moon. Many consider the original graphic novel of the Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons to be the Citizen Kane of their world. A movie version has been in the works for years and many will not tolerate anything less than the best movie possible.

MPAA Edits Watchmen Trailer

2008-07-20T01:47:00.000-07:00

Steven Spielberg edited out guns in his movie "E.T" to be more "P.C" with the times. Personally, I'm not a fan of that move but I guess that's Steven's choice. Zack Synder, the director of "Watchmen," was faced with a similar situation with the release of the first trailer for his movie. The MPAA thought it would be too risky to show a person aiming a gun at the audience and he had to replace said gun with a digital walkie-talkie.

*sigh* ...that's pretty sad. If you watch the trailer you'll never notice what the dude is holding. The scene lasts less than a second (about 12 frames) and goes by so fast you have to freeze frame it to even notice. It happens about 1:33 in the Watchmen trailer below.

"Still, the Motion Picture Association Of America doesn't want to take any chances, which is why they told the director of Watchmen, Zack Snyder, that he couldn't have a guy pointing a gun at the audience in the trailer.

Snyder replaced the gun with a walkie-talkie. This way, if anyone from 1903 watches the trailer, instead of ducking and/or running for their life, they'll just drop their bowler hat, curl up into a ball, rock back and forth, and mumble into their shirtwaist, "What world is this? What is happening to me? Where am I?" (source)

The Watchmen Trailer Song: Music by Smashing Pumpkins

2008-07-19T15:22:00.000-07:00

Official Watchmen Trailer
One of the more interesting points that came out of the recently released Watchmen Trailer is the music that accompanies the preview. What's that Smashing Pumpkins song in the trailer?

While there's no doubt that it was Billy Corgan and the Pumpkins doing the song in the Watchmen trailer, I couldn't help but think that I had heard this song in another movie but I just couldn't remember where.

After a quick research I discovered a shocking tidbit. The song was used for another movie about 10 years back and it turned out to be another comic book inspired flick. It also turns out it's from a pretty bad one. The song is from one of the worst films ever, "Batman and Robin."

Yes, the movie that tried to killed the Batman franchise and gave us the now famous 'nipples' on the Batsuit is lending a song from its soundtrack to the adaptation of one of the best graphic novels ever. How great is that!

Basically, "The Beginning is the End is the Beginning" by Smashing Pumpkins is a remix of their song "The End is the Beginning is the End" which was made for the "Batman and Robin" Soundtrack. Here's a video below for each of the two songs and you'll noticed the slower version "The Beginning is the End is the Beginning" is the one you'll hear in the "Watchmen" trailer. I only have found a fan-made video for this one so far that's set to some "Final Fantasy" clips. But it has the whole song to listen to.

"The Beginning is the End is the Beginning" by the Smashing Pumpkins

Now, here's "The End Is the Beginning Is the End" from the "Batman and Robin" Soundtrack.

The Smashing Pumpkins - The End Is the Beginning Is the End
from Batman and Robin

MTV took notice, too. They asked Watchmen director Zack Snyder about why he used the Smashing Pumpkins in the trailer. They also dusted off their archives to bring out a story where "Batman and Robin" director Joel Schumacher and Billy Corgon of the "Smashing Pumpkins" talk shop about the song and video for the Batman movie.

"What compelled Zack Snyder, the, um … watchman … behind “Watchmen” to use the track? Was it because there’s that shot in the trailer of a guy (I’m sure he has a name, but seriously, people, the last graphic novel I read involved the name “Jughead”) falling from the sky that vaguely resembles something Batman might do? Is “Watchmen” sort of like watching “Batman & Robin” in slow-motion — much like how listening to “The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning” is somewhat of a stretched-out version of the original tune? Here’s what Snyder had to say:

“Smashing Pumpkins we picked for a couple reasons. For one, I felt like in mood, it was correct for what we were trying to do. We were trying to sort of get at the unwashed masses who don’t know anything about ‘Watchmen’ and find something provocative that makes you go, ‘What is that?’ … And then, also, I felt like the song itself spoke a little to the ‘Watchmen’ world. And then on the third hand … it will create controversy a little bit in the fanbase because they’re going to be like, ‘Wait, is that going to be in the movie? That ain’t 1985!’ ”

All good reasons, we suppose. But it doesn’t answer the bigger question: Did he have any idea that Corgan wrote the song expressly for that other nocturnal superhero?" (...more)

Zack Snyder Talks Watchmen Trailer

2008-07-18T21:23:00.000-07:00

The Watchmen Trailer hit the web hard this weekend as fans of the acclaimed graphic novel were eager to get a glimpse of the movie adaptation. Director Zack Snyder has been good to the fans so far by allowing glimpses behind the scenes at sets and characters. He also wisely took into consideration that the first trailer would set the opinion for many die-hard "Watchmen" fans and he chose to stick as close to the original material as possible.

The Watchmen Trailer

MTV had a chance to sit down with Snyder to talk about the making of the movie of Alan Moore's classic and the release of the trailer to the public. Here are some samples of the interview (read the full interview here):

MTV: When we interviewed you for "300," you said the "Watchmen" moment you were most eager to film was Manhattan's deployment to Vietnam, when he becomes enormous and slaughters the enemy on behalf of the U.S. Now, we can finally see a bit of it!

Snyder: Yeah that's super fun, and it gets better and better. I've got to be honest: The version we're able to show in the trailer is cool, but it's the version that's been approved for all audiences. The R-rated version, when he blows those guys up, it's a little rougher.

MTV: That's how he kills people?

Snyder: In the movie, their guts explode — it's a little rougher.

MTV: And at the end of it all, we get an eye-popping shot of Dr. Manhattan's crib. What was it like to create this oasis on Mars?

Snyder: Well, what happens is that Manhattan exiles himself to Mars, and he builds that glass palace. Because his father was a clock-maker, he uses that big structure as a metaphor for the clock of the universe. In some ways, it's his own place of meditation. He's taken Laurie there at that point in the movie, and they're talking about how they're going to resolve their differences. That's how he does it: When he wants to talk to you, he takes you to Mars and he puts you in a giant glass.

MTV: What else is in the trailer that you're most proud of?

Snyder: You see a little bit of the Keane Act riots — that's the guy throwing the Molotov cocktail through the window. The Keane Act was an act of Congress that outlawed the vigilantes originally. ... That little image of that little bottle being thrown through the window, and also the shot of the Owl Ship floating there with Blake the Comedian standing in the window and all these people cheering, that's [the riots that ensue].

Yes, It is live. Watch The Watchmen Trailer !!

2008-07-17T18:32:00.000-07:00

The time has come to rejoice and sing in the streets. The Watchmen Trailer is live and online. Until I can find an embedded link, you can Watch the Watchmen Trailer via their official website. That will link you to Apple where Steve Jobs and Zack Thomas will come out, holding hands, and toss iPhones in the air in joy. That will link you to another Apple link. So, I guess what I'm saying is that to bypass all that just click here to watch the Watchmen Trailer.

Edit: here's the embedded Watchmen Trailer. Enjoy!

Watchmen - Trailer
Uploaded by hawkbcn

Here are a few snips from the trailer to wet your appetite! Some of these scenes look like they were taken straight from the graphic novel. Beautiful...

New Home?

2008-07-08T19:15:00.001-07:00

Howdy! As you know, Dave and Thomas have a new home at Dave and Thomas.net (bookmark the new location) To help mark the move we're giving away some DVD's! This week's winner was Terry from Ohio.

Be sure to head over and catch this week's contest and see if you can win. Also, the fate of the remaining sites are being decided. All the movie sites (Watchmen, Cloverfield, Speed Racer,...) will be rolled into a new site in the next week. More to come...

Interview: Dave Gibbons talks Watchmen

2008-06-01T18:55:00.000-07:00

Dave Gibbons started out as a comic strip illustrator for DC Thomson and IPC, but came to greater prominence as one of the premiere illustrators at 2000 AD comic in the late 1970s, contributing to strips such as Dan Dare, Rogue Trooper and Harlem Heroes.

His greatest fame was awaiting him in the mid-eighties, when his collaboration with Alan Moore on the Watchmen graphic novel was to lead to both cult and commercial acclaim, and the only Hugo award yet granted to a graphic novel. Gibbons' working methods and technique are examined along with those of Brian Bolland, Duncan Fegredo and others in the recently-released Studio Space book.

Remaining as busy as ever both as a comic illustrator and writer, Gibbons is looking forward – along with the rest of us - to the release of Zack Snyder’s Watchmen movie adaptation in March of 2009…

Zack Snyder Wants You To Help Make Commercials for The Watchmen

2008-05-27T20:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the WATCHMEN "Veidt Enterprises Advertising Contest." Director Zack Snyder is offering you the opportunity to create "Veidt Enterprises" TV commercials that could end up in the feature film WATCHMEN, scheduled to be released in theaters on March 6, 2009. Remember, the movie is set in 1985, so TV commercials should be in full frame 4:3 aspect ratio (so it looks like standard TV, not widescreen) and they should be 15, 30 or 60 seconds in length. Visit the Watchmen YouTube Channel for more info.

Watchmen's 1940's Super-hero Team 'The Minutemen'!

2008-05-27T20:04:00.000-07:00

My pals at Ain't It Cool News (AICN) have landed the first picture of the original Minutemen from the upcoming Watchmen movie.

What we have below is a photo that the Minutemen took - Who are the Minutemen? Well in WATCHMEN - it was the first TEAM of superheroes that formed in 1939 and pulled a BEATLES in 1949. In the pic below you'll see the classic SILK SPECTRE and NITE OWL... you'll see CAPTAIN METROPOLIS, MOTHMAN, SILHOUETTE, COMEDIAN, DOLLAR BILL and with the noose... HOODED JUSTICE.

Dr. Manhattan Figure to be released at San Diego Comic Con

2008-05-26T18:46:00.000-07:00

DC Direct have just revealed their initial Watchmen line-up which includes the first wave of action figures (available on January 28th 2009) and a series of cold-cast porcelain busts (January 21st). The announced Dr. Manhattan figure will be revealed at the upcoming Comic Con in San Diego at the end of July.

Special Watchment DVD to hit shelves prior to Theatrical Release?

2008-05-26T18:41:00.000-07:00

News has Watchmen studio producers Warner Bros. looking to cash in on the popularity of the upcoming Watchmen movie by creating a special DVD tied into the movie to be released before the live-action flick hits the big screen.

Warner Bros. is trying to prop up softening DVD sales with a new strategy to promote its upcoming superhero feature film Watchmen. The studio will release a separate side movie based on the original film on DVD only, prior to the main Watchmen hitting theaters.

The New York Times writes that DVD sales fell for the first time last year — a drop that has retailers and studios nervous as DVDs can drive as much as 70 percent of the revenue for a new film. Warner Bros.’ plan would generate three separate DVD release opportunities for Watchmen (the side movie, the original film and a bundling of the two), pushing retail sales and promoting a (hopefully) new franchise for the studio.

Alan Moore Talks Watchmen

2008-05-02T15:37:00.000-07:00

Alan Moore Talks Watchmen
The genius Alan Moore sits down to talk about his Watchmen world.

First Look Watchmen Action Figures

2008-04-20T12:11:00.000-07:00

Toy News International has posted images from the DC Direct action figure line of Watchmen characters and they are looking pretty cool. This lineup is part of the New York City Comic Con. Series 1 has the action figures for the Silk Spectre, Nightowl, Ozymandias, and Rorschach.

2008-04-14T20:02:00.001-07:00

Extras on the set of the Watchmen

(via Pop Photo) There has always been a thin line between film and still photography for Hollywood phenom Zack Snyder. Director of last year's hugely popular Greco-Persian war story 300, Snyder has been taking pictures for most of his life -- inspired by the example of his mother, an artist/photographer who also planted the film seed by giving her son an 8mm movie camera when he was ten. "When I got out of college I started working as a director-cameraman for commercials," says the photographer, a graduate of Pasadena's Art Center College of Design. "I was using a Polaroid 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 pack-film camera as a way of checking exposure and previewing lighting, so I carried it with me wherever I went."

Snyder went many places, spanning the globe to make music videos and Clio-winning commercials for clients such as Jeep, Budweiser, and Titleist, and shooting Polaroids as he traveled. Why Polaroids? "I look at a photograph as something like a sand castle," he explains. "I like that it's a one-off." Snyder shoots Polaroid Type 55 black-and-white Positive/Negative film, as do many fine-art and documentary photographers, but unlike those photographers bravely throws his negative away.

Watchmen Video Production Blog

2008-04-06T16:47:00.001-07:00

Video Journal #1: Sets and Sensibility
The first of 12 video blogs that we will be releasing during the next year to give you an inside look at the making of Watchmen. We'll launch one every month on the 6th, so keep an eye out for them as they will be premiering on various sites throughout the year.

Superherohype have launched the first of 12 video journals from set of Zak Snyder's graphic novel adaptation of Watchmen, hitting theaters on March 6th, 2009.

Here it is, the first of 12 video blogs that we will be releasing during the next year to give you an inside look at the making of Watchmen. We'll launch one every month on the 6th, so keep an eye out for them as they will be premiering on various sites throughout the year. With that said...

- Zack

A complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, Watchmen is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the "Doomsday Clock" - which charts the USA's tension with the Soviet Union - is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed-up but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes.

As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion - a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers - Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity...but who is watching the watchmen?

The Legitimacy of Graphic Novels

2008-03-24T10:20:00.000-07:00

The Watchmen graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons stands out for many as the greatest example of the genre. Still, some people will always consider it a comic book and look over its literary importance.

Three graphic novels from the 1980s – “Maus,” “Watchmen” and “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns” - are being used by Nancy Frey, an associate professor of literacy who works with teachers and aspiring teachers at San Diego State University. Frey and others such as Rocco Versaci are part of a growing number of educators encouraging readers to see comics as a legitimate literary form.

Palomar College professor Rocco Versaci will teach a class on the subject, called “Comics as Literature. Versaci said comics invite students to think more broadly about literature and get them to talk in class.”

"When most people think about comics, their views are limited to newspaper funnies or thin, sometimes juvenile tales of superhero adventures.

But experts, including Palomar College professor Rocco Versaci, say comic books and graphic novels that are sophisticated, emotionally gripping and deal with complex subjects have been emerging over the past 20 years or so.

Still, some people don't know that award-winning titles such as “Maus,” “Persepolis” and “Fun Home” even exist.

Times are changing, however, and students are increasingly studying graphic novels in classrooms, said Nancy Frey, an associate professor of literacy who works with teachers and aspiring teachers at San Diego State University." (...continue)

Comic legend Alan Moore keeps true to roots

2008-03-21T15:50:00.000-07:00

The BBC News sat down with iconic Alan Moore to take a look at his past successes and future endevours. Currently, Alan Moore's Watchmen is due to hit theaters in Feb. 2009.

"Watchmen author Alan Moore is revered across the world as being one of the most creative forces in the industry.

Books such as Watchmen, From Hell, League of Extraordinary Gentleman and V for Vendetta show that some comic books must be placed on the high table of literature.

But despite his fame, Moore still lives in his home town of Northampton, in a three-bedroom mid-terrace home similar to the one he grew up in.

As a youngster he quickly became fascinated by stories and books, he explains as part of a Inside Out documentary for BBC One in the East of England.

"I had joined the library by the age of five and I naturally gravitated towards mythology, fairy stories, Arthurian romances and the legends of the Greeks and Romans," he says." (...continue)

Charles Schulz’s "Peanuts" as The Watchmen

2008-03-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

/Film found this great rendition by 22-Year-Old artist Evan Shaner who recreated the world of the Watchmen in the style of Charles Schulz's "Peanuts." The cast of the classic comic strip includes Charlie Brown as Doctor Manhattan, Linus as The Comedian, Schroeder as Ozymandias, Lucy as Silk Spectre, Snoopy as Rorschach, and Pigpen as Nite Owl.

First Views of Watchmen Character Pictures

2008-03-06T12:45:00.000-08:00

Zack Synder has officially given us 5 of the characters in full costumes from the Watchmen movie. He updated the official Watchmen Blog with the images today and they are spectacular. We see for the first time a handful of the important characters from the Watchmen world. The Comedian, Nite Owl, Ozymandia, Rorschach, and the Silk Spectre.

Here we are, officially one year and counting until the release of Watchmen on 03.06.09. 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.

-Zack

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian

Patrick Wilson as Nite Owl

Matthew Goode as Ozymandias

Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach

Malin Akerman as Silk Spectre

Watchmen's Black Freighter Confirmed

2008-03-01T22:42:00.000-08:00

It’s been rumored for a while now, but Gerard Butler has confirmed to Empire that he will be lending his vocal talents to the animated Tales Of The Black Freighter short that Zack Snyder is planning as a companion piece to Watchmen.

The Scottish actor had been linked with a role in Watchmen for a long time, but when nothing materialized, it seemed likely that he wouldn’t be linking up with his 300 director on next year’s eagerly-awaited blockbuster.

But, when Snyder hatched plans to film the Tales Of The Black Freighter comic-within-a-comic that tells the tale of a castaway’s mental and physical deterioration and damnation as he tries to intercept a ghost freighter headed for his hometown, and include it on the Watchmen DVD, Butler’s name surfaced once more.

And, speaking to Empire just the other day, he told us that he had committed to the project.

Pick The Oscars, Win Justice League DVD

2008-02-21T14:19:00.001-08:00

A quick post to let you all know I'm giving away a copy of the new Justice League: The New Frontier DVD. We're having a contest on the Dave and Thomas site to pick the winners for this weekends Academy Awards. Pick from the list of Oscar Nominations and you could win.

Check out the details here and remember the deadline is Sunday, Feb. 24th.

Watchmen Wraps Production; New Image Released

2008-02-20T17:31:00.000-08:00

New photo from the Watchmen movie

Zack Snyder has wrapped production on the movie adaptation of the Watchmen graphic novel. As a 'wrap' gift to the fans, Zack dropped us this little image from the Watchmen movie.

Watchmen Is A Wrap

2008-02-18T21:47:00.000-08:00

The official Watchmen site is giving us word that production is nearing the end as Executive Producer Herb Gains gives some details on the shoot with his farewells to the great times had by all making the movie.

"As we approach the last days of shooting Watchmen -- yes, the end is nigh -- it's time to reflect on the whole Watchmen experience. I think back to January 2007 when I first met Zack and he walked me through his drawings for the title sequence. I remember my initial reaction was, How can we shoot all of it? Why do we have to shoot all that? And if we do, how do we shoot all of it? We spent the next two months scouting, researching and budgeting locations all over the world, including Australia, London, Prague, Spain -- at one point we even considered New York -- and, of course, Los Angeles.

I now sit in my Vancouver hotel room one year later, and guess what? We did shoot all of it -- every frame of it, and not just the title sequence drawings but all of Zack's drawings are now committed to film. The combination of modern-day technology and the level of artistic ability of so many people has made the Watchmen experience second to none. The spirit behind the making of this film was nothing short of total pleasure and love. As I wandered from room to room at the wrap party, there was not only a sense of accomplishment from everyone involved but a feeling of sadness that it's coming to an end. The one thing that remains for me is the anticipation and excitement of seeing the finished product, knowing that we’ve all worked on something very special.

Thank you Zack, for allowing me to be a part of it."

-Herb Gains
Watchmen Executive Producer

The Rights To Film Watchmen Heads To Court

2008-02-13T10:16:00.000-08:00

The filming of the Watchmen movie by Warner Bros. studio got started before the writer's strike to get production going before the labor halt. Now it looks like a lawsuit from rival studio Fox will try to halt the production of the Watchmen movie.

Fox is claiming it owns the rights to the movie and that Warner Bros. never fully paid for them.

"Fox claims that between 1986 and 1990, it acquired all movie rights to the 12-issue DC Comics series and screenplays by Charles McKeown and Sam Hamm. In 1991, Fox assigned some rights via a quitclaim to Largo International with the understanding that the studio held exclusive rights to distribute the first motion picture based on "Watchmen," according to the lawsuit.

The project apparently bounced around to Universal and Paramount before returning to Warners. Now, Fox claims that neither Gordon nor Warners has paid the buy-out price or advised the studio of any other conditions required under the agreement, including procedures necessary to acquire the rights to "Watchmen" from Fox." (source)

Tales from a Fan from the Set of Watchmen

2008-02-09T12:35:00.000-08:00

What fan of comic books doesn't hope to someday be cast (at least as an extra) in the film adaptation of their favorite comic book? Well, as Joel Studer told WatchmenComicMovie, he was lucky enough to get onto the set of Watchmen.

Studer writes about the experience in his own words. A snippet of his entry reads:

I read Watchmen a few years ago and ever since have been determined to get everyone I know to read it. I'm a motorcycle builder and mechanic living in Washington, and know very little about the movie industry, but when I heard they were filming a movie version of Watchmen in Vancouver, I knew I had to find a way in. (...continue)

Carla Gugino Gets Sexy For Silk Spectre In ‘Watchmen’

2008-01-31T21:07:00.000-08:00

(via MTV) When I recently visited the set of one of 2009’s most anticipated movies, “Watchmen,” I saw many amazing things that I unfortunately still can’t talk about. One of the people who wasn’t there, however, was the stunningly sexy Carla Gugino — so when I caught up with her on the red carpet at Sunday’s SAG Awards, we were naturally both excited to engage in some red-hot, non-embargoed Sally Jupiter action.

“It was really one of the craziest, most fun roles I’ve ever gotten to play,” marveled the “Sin City” star, cast as the burlesque dancer who proves to be the most PR-savvy of the complex superheroes. “I start at 25 years old in the 1940s, and I age to 67 years old with full prosthetics in the 1980s. [Sally] is a larger-than-life character. She’s a costumed crime fighter, but her idea of a costume is very Bettie Page-meets-[Alberto] Vargas.”

As those who’ve read Alan Moore’s beloved 1986 comic know, Gugino’s character dubs herself “The Silk Spectre” and becomes a de facto matriarch among the alternate-reality antiheroes. Years later, she’d pass the torch to daughter Laurie (”The Heartbreak Kid” star Malin Akerman) and retire — but not until after she might have been raped by another so-called “hero.”

“The rape scene is pretty crazy that Jeffrey Dean Morgan and I have,” Gugino insisted. “Not that I would say that’s the one I really want you guys to see. … The title sequence of this movie is going to be extraordinary. We spent many weeks over the time of the shoot shooting it. That’s going to be a very, very special thing that wasn’t scripted, that will be really empowering.” (...continue)

Who Scores The Watchmen?

2008-01-24T12:14:00.000-08:00

The music of the Watchmen is looking good. An announcement this week on who will compose the films music.

"Tyler Bates, a composer best known for his collaborations with Zack Snyder and Rob Zombie, has been chosen to provide the score for the upcoming adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons's Watchmen. Comingsoon reports that Snyder has recruited the man who scored 300, saying about that earlier project "It moves the film into mythology cauterizing the images as you view them, making them something they could never be alone." Bates has also written the music for Dawn of the Dead (2004), Halloween (2007), The Devil's Rejects, and Zombie's Werewolf Women of the SS trailer from Grindhouse." (source)

Watchmen Storyboards

2008-01-19T12:25:00.000-08:00

New updates for the Watchmen's director Zack Snyder himself. This week Zack revealed some of the storyboards for the film adaptation of the Watchmen graphic novel. Storyboards are crucial for the filmmakers to visualize the shots they set up. Zack talks in detail about the vital part the storyboard process plays.

Watchmen Storyboards

Alan Moore Doesn’t Care About The Watchmen

2008-01-04T08:51:00.000-08:00

Alan Moore’s feelings about his comic books being turned into movies have never been much of a secret. On one hand, you can’t blame him – the adaptation of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was pretty horrid. But the news surrounding the writer’s attempt to have his name removed even from the good adaptations, like V For Vendetta, is the stuff of legends. With Moore’s most popular and groundbreaking creation, Watchmen currently filming, has the comic book legend changed his mind?

In a word: No. Not a bit.

In fact, Moore recently confirmed with Wizard Magazine that the studio has already sent over the paperwork Moore has to sign to have his name removed from Watchmen and the money he’s entitled to sent to artist Dave Gibbons – a similar agreement to what Moore had for Constantine. Moore told Wizard, ”I got a piece of paper—they must’ve learned something from the V for Vendetta debacle. I got a piece of paper a couple of months ago saying, “I, the undersigned, hereby give you permission to take my name off of the film and to send my money to Dave Gibbons.” So I sent that back to them all signed and sealed, which means that now I don’t have to rant and spew about the film.” (...more)

Watchmen Movie Stills Vs. the Comic Illustrations

2008-01-02T17:45:00.000-08:00

Watchmen Movie Stills Vs. the Comic Illustrations

Take a look at how the set from Zack Snyder´s Watchmen matches up to the comic from Maxim Magazine.

DAVE GIBBONS VISITS THE SET OF "WATCHMEN"

2007-12-17T17:36:00.000-08:00

The first outsider's report from the set of "Watchmen" is in, and it comes courtesy of non other than Dave Gibbons himself, artist and co-creator with Alan Moore of the venerable graphic novel upon which the Warner Bros. film is based.

In a post to the official "Watchmen" blog over the weekend, Gibbons described emotionally his visit to the set of Dan Dreiberg's (Nite Owl) apartment, listing various artifacts he saw including framed copies of The New York Gazette with stories of past Nite Owl exploits, trophies in glass display cases, and, said Gibbons, "over there, on its mannequin stand, the faded costume of the original Nite Owl keeps silent vigil. (source)

Jeffrey Dean Morgan Talks Watchmen

2007-12-17T17:29:00.000-08:00

Jeffrey Dean Morgan landed the great role of bringing the Comedian to life in the big screen adaptation of the "Watchmen." Taking on the role of Edward Blake is just a little different than his role on Gray's Anatomy.

Can you talk about your character because I don't know the franchise? You play-it's called the Comedian?

Jeffrey Dean Morgan: Edward Blake is his real name and then the Comedian is the kind of superhero character he is. The character I play is 180 degrees from anything I've ever done before. A far cry from certainly William (on P.S. I Love You). A really far cry from Denny Duquette (on Gray's Anatomy), which is why I wanted to do it. It's a whole other thing. He's an animal. But I think one of the reasons I got hired-the things he does, his physical actions are horrendous. Certainly the most horrendous things I've ever seen much less portrayed. But I think my job is to-you don't hate him-so my job is to kind of be able to do these fucking horrible things and yet have the audience not hate his guts. Because you read the book and you don't hate the Comedian. There's a reason he does what he does and you know he just takes it maybe to a level that most people wouldn't but for him it's normal.

Watchmen Backlot Photos

2007-11-27T21:03:00.000-08:00

Four new photos are up on the Watchmen Movie blog which show for the first time the 1980's New York City that Alan Moore invisioned.

Director Zack Snyder updates the posts much as he kept fans informed when he made the '300' movie. Shooting in Vancouver, B.C., the crew built their own NYC which includes the Gunga Dinner, Treasure Island comic store, a pawn shop with a Nixon campaign poster, and the infamous newstand where the story centers around.

Zack also breaks down the supplies used to construct the scenes:

After a couple months of shooting at various locations and on stages, last week we finally made the transition to our New York City backlot. Since the New York City that is rendered in the graphic novel is so particular, it was very important to me that our backlot speak the same language, the vernacular of WATCHMEN. In addition, the backlot needs to function as many different parts of the city, countless store fronts, street corners, alleys, etc. So, with that in mind, we set out to build own own custom backlot here in Vancouver, BC. In my opinion, the results speak for themselves.

Thanks to all of the many talented people who contributed to making this backlot a reality!

Here are a few interesting facts about the backlot:

• 5,800 feet of neon requiring 24,000 watts of power
• 100 unique and custom-designed graphics created for the various storefronts
• 5,000 square feet of custom posters
• Street had to work for 1938, 1945, 1953, 1957, 1964, 1974, 1975, 1977, and
1985
• 1,040 feet of 1:1 scale New York streets
• 98,400 square feet of exterior scenery
• 12,500 square feet of interior scenery
• Building heights range from 23'9" to 42'6"
• 10,325 16-foot 2x4s
• 3,600 sheets of OSB (plywood-like construction material)
• 384,000 square feet of foam brick
• 200,000 nails
• 3,500 tubes of construction adhesive
• 160,000 lbs. of steel I-beams support the facades
• 300 cubic meters of concrete
• 6,000 square feet of glass
• 4,800 square feet of plexiglass
• 20,000 donuts were consumed by the construction crew
• 20,000 gallons of water and 3,000 gallons of Gatorade was drunk by the crew

-Zack (source)

Watchmen 101

2007-11-27T20:57:00.000-08:00

Empire Movies has compiled a great Watchmen 101 for anyone needing a quick idea of the who and what of the Alan Moore graphic novel.

Watchmen is regarded by those in the know as the greatest comic book movie ever written. Yes, even better than The Bash Street Kids. After years of trying, the movie version is now well under way. But, if you've never read the book, you may be wondering what all the fuss is about and what the hell's going on. But calm yourself, get a nice hot drink and absorb our guide to all things Watchmen.

The Story...
It's 1985 and, while fluoro-socks and Steve Guttenberg have been deemed perfectly acceptable, 'superheroes' (only one character in Watchmen actually possesses any superhuman powers) have been outlawed for undermining the police force and occasionally attacking the public. But a murderer is offing the retired crime fighters and our story begins with the killing of The Comedian, a man who dances the line between hero and villain. His death kicks off a series of events that brings New York's heroes out of retirement and uncovers a plot that could put the entire world in peril. Dun-dun-DAAAAH!

Watchmen 101 >

MTV Reports Matt Frewer (Max Headroom) Joins Watchment Cast

2007-11-14T12:03:00.000-08:00

Former virtual icon Max Headroom is headed to the big screen version of The Watchmen. Matt Frewer, who portrayed the computer generated talking head back in the mid 80's. His addition to the cast puts a face to Moloch the Mystic.

"MTV News has learned that actor Matt Frewer — best known as the stuttering, sarcastic, 80’s icon Max Headroom — has joined the cast of the eagerly anticipated film. The 49-year-old thesp will suit up as Moloch the Mystic, a satanic super villain and magician.

In the graphic novel, Moloch clashes with famous “masks” like Nite Owl, Ozymandias, and Doctor Manhattan, before giving up his life of crime sometime before the action of the novel begins. Rehabilitated, the former vice lord moves to New York City, where he lives alone until his murder in 1985. His dead body is discovered by Rorschach, who is framed for Moloch’s death."
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Watchmen’ Cast Turns It To The ‘Max’ >

Watchmen Official Website Updates

2007-11-09T16:32:00.000-08:00

Zack Snyder has updated the Watchmen Official site by adding a nice little post about the Watchmen "War Room" where the production crew gathers to work out the details of the film.

Not many details are seen in the pictures as the backgrounds are nicely blurred. You can make out the Watchmen characters on the poster above Zack's head in the picture above but that's about it.

Its a greenlight for Tales of the Black Freighter

2007-11-01T22:50:00.000-07:00

The story within a story plot line gets a little deeper with the greenlighting of a rather unique tie-in to the Watchmen Move. Director Zack Snyder pleased the Warner Bros brass with what they’ve seen of the movie so much that they’ve given a budget for the director to shoot the special ‘Tales of the Black Freighter’ for the disc.

"Tales of the Black Freighter’’ is a comic book within the Watchmen universe, that one of the characters read while the events of the graphic novel unfold. The comic is read by a teenage boy while he sits beside a newsstand, whose proprietor, contemplates the latest headlines and discusses them with his customers.

The "Black Freighter" storyline is in interesting concept piece that could be a great asset to the Watchmen universe.

Its a greenlight for Tales of the Black Freighter>

“I’m Absolutely Keeping the Graphic Novel’s Ending”

2007-10-28T17:37:00.000-07:00

Hardcore Watchmen fans have been waiting to hear this for a long time: Zack Snyder is keeping the ending.

Yes, he said it. At least he was quoted as saying that in the latest issue of Starlog magazine.

He actually had quite a bit to say in the four page article - most of which will have all of the die hard Watchmen fans screaming “Amen!”

"I’m sticking to the hard edge and all of the bickering that’s in Watchmen. If you don’t do that, you shouldn’t do the film at all. The reason why is that the movie works as an answer to what’s out there. It did that as a graphic novel, and it needs to do that as a film. If you want to take out the edgy bits, then don’t bother making it. Never mind!"

More>

Who Writes The Watchmen?

2007-10-06T15:27:00.000-07:00

Zack Snyder brought in a pair of Hollywood juggernaut scriptwriters to rewrite Alex Tse’s original draft. Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, hot off of writing Transformers, were brought in to enhance the script.

How much of the original draft is intact is unsure, but after Orci and Kurtzman were done with the rewrite, Snyder himself took a pen to it and made a few minor tweaks. [...more]

Photos from Watchmen Movie Set

2007-09-19T00:34:00.000-07:00

The above picture is a verified test shot of a scene from the Watchmen. Director Zack Snyder slipped it into a trailer of his movie, '300.' Also, a scene from the Watchmen featuring a flashback scene of Dr. Manhattan meeting JFK at the White House was caught last week being filmed.

The photos were sent by an anonymous insider to Watchmen Comic Movie from the set of Zack Snyder's upcoming Watchmen movie. They were taken at Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver.

'Watchmen' adds Carla Gugino

2007-09-02T17:34:00.000-07:00

Director Zack Snyder has added Carla Gugino to his cast of Watchmen. This is not Gugino's first appearance in a movie adaptation of a famous graphic novel. She appeared as Lucille in Frank Miller's Sin City. In the Watchmen, Gugino will portray the first Silk Spectre, known as Sally Jupiter.

The Annotated Watchmen describes Jupiter's character as:

SILK SPECTRE I (1921-?): Sally Jupiter, nee Juspeczyk. She changed her name to hide her Polish heritage. A former waitress and burlesque dancer, she became a crimefighter in early 1939 on the advice of her agent, Laurence Shexnayder.

She was a member of the Minutemen; the Comedian was expelled from the group after attempting to rape her. She left the team and retired in 1947 to marry Shexnayder.

TIME Magazine's All-Time 100 Novels

2007-07-30T05:54:00.000-07:00

The only graphic novel to appear on TIME's All-Time 100 Novels is the 'Watchmen' (1986)by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons. Here is their synopsis of the graphic novel:

"Watchmen is a graphic novel—a book-length comic book with ambitions above its station—starring a ragbag of bizarre, damaged, retired superheroes: the paunchy, melancholic Nite Owl; the raving doomsayer Rorschach; the blue, glowing, near-omnipotent, no-longer-human Doctor Manhattan. Though their heyday is past, these former crime-fighters are drawn back into action by the murder of a former teammate, The Comedian, which turns out to be the leading edge of a much wider, more disturbing conspiracy. Told with ruthless psychological realism, in fugal, overlapping plotlines and gorgeous, cinematic panels rich with repeating motifs, Watchmen is a heart-pounding, heartbreaking read and a watershed in the evolution of a young medium.—L.G. "

TIME's All-Time 100 Novels : Watchmen

watchmen

Watchmen Wallpaper

2007-07-30T05:53:00.000-07:00

The iconic 'Watchmen' smiley face wallpaper.

Cast of the Watchmen

2007-07-29T20:11:00.000-07:00

Zach Snyder at Comic-con 2008

Here's a few casting notes released this week. The Watchmen is being directed by Zach Snyder who also helmed the smash hit '300.'

Patrick Wilson ... The Night Owl

Billy Crudup ... Jon Osterman/Dr. Manhattan

Jackie Earle Haley ... Walter Kovacs/Rorschach

Jeffrey Dean Morgan ... The Comedian

Malin Akerman ... Laurie Juspeczyk/The Silk Spectre

The Watchmen Movie Site

2007-07-29T20:05:00.000-07:00

The Watchmen Movie Site is officially up with a brief synopsis and cast listing. Here's a sample storyline:

"Watchmen is set in 1985, in an alternative history United States where costumed adventurers are real and the country is edging closer to a nuclear war with the Soviet Union (the Doomsday Clock is at five minutes to midnight). It tells the story of a group of past and present superheroes and the events surrounding the mysterious murder of one of their own. Watchmen depicts superheroes as real people who must confront ethical and personal issues, who struggle with neuroses and failings, and who - with one notable exception - lack anything recognizable as super powers. Watchmen's deconstruction of the conventional superhero rchetype, combined with its innovative adaptation of cinematic techniques and heavy use of symbolism, multi-layered dialogue, and metafiction, has influenced both comics and film. "