By the end of 2005, Watchmen had landed at Warner Bros, and in June 2006 the studio turned to a relatively new director whose second film, 300, was in post-production at the studio. Zack Snyder - for it was he - took the job. "I thought, 'if I don't do this, someone else will and they'll mess it up and it'll be my fault'" said Snyder, "So I might as well do it and if I mess it up at least it'll be my fault on purpose." This time, the script was approved - staying largely faithful to the novel, but with a slightly altered ending - the budget came together, and even an 11th hour lawsuit from Fox was settled so that the film could be released. The results? You'll see Friday.
PICTURED Zack Snyder on the set of Watchmen
For more on Watchmen's tortuous production history, and many other similar stories, check out David Hughes' The Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Never Made, from Titan Books.
Have Your Say
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Your Comments
1
RE: ...?
Posted on Wednesday March 4, 2009, 17:38 by Dirty Hartigan
L: shanewire
Was this whole article an ad for a book?
was under the impression it was an extract from the book, with added pictures by EMPIRE. Can't say it bothers me. It's a good book anyway, keep meaning to get a copy.
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2
RE: ...?
Posted on Wednesday March 4, 2009, 15:25 by Helen OHara
L: shanewire
Was this whole article an ad for a book? And to be honest, as pathetic as that might be, at least there'd be a fuckin excuse for it then. It was total rubbish! No talk of the various casts or anything. Pure laziness.
one of the various casts ever actually signed on: even Greengrass, who got closest, didn't have a confirmed list.
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3
...?
Posted on Tuesday March 3, 2009, 23:24 by shanewire
Was this whole article an ad for a book? And to be honest, as pathetic as that might be, at least there'd be a fuckin excuse for it then. It was total rubbish! No talk of the various casts or anything. Pure laziness. Read More
4
UGH. Enough already
Posted on Tuesday March 3, 2009, 20:45 by fang
Enough already with these stupid side scrolling pages. It's one thing to have a few to click through, but when you have 'the 100 best comic super heroes' or the like it's REALLY annoying.
Change the format guys, it's old. Read More
5
RE: britesparc
Posted on Tuesday March 3, 2009, 16:59 by Jwyn
Yeah, who owns the rights to the animatics, the Hayter scene that was shot, etc? In the spirit of entente cordiale between Fox and Warners, could Universal and Paramount be persuaded (whether monetarily or otherwise) to release these for the DVD? Read More
6
RE: britesparc
Posted on Tuesday March 3, 2009, 15:35 by THE_Simon
I can see where you're coming from in regards to the sense of urgency setting it in the 80s. Keep in mind, tho, that it's a completely different 80s. Nixon is still president, America won the Vietnam war and there's a naked shiny blue guy on the side of the Americans. Completely different from our own history, so in that aspect anything can happen at the end! (BTW I have tried really hard not to spoil the ending for myself, so please don't! LOL) :) Read More
7
Posted on Tuesday March 3, 2009, 13:49 by Latrade
Pity also that with all those failed attempts there would be a some serious bonus material fanboy porn that could be included on the DVD/BRay, except I bet the legal wranglings would halt all that. Read More
8
Posted on Tuesday March 3, 2009, 11:52 by britesparc
I kinda wish Greengrass had made his version. I understand Snyder's fidelity to the source, but I feel for yer average bloke on the street, the film may lose a sense of urgency or threat by being set in what is clearly an alternate 1980s (obviously, it's all an alternate universe anyway coz of Dr Manhattan and all that, but still, if it's set in the past, then the world can't really end, can it?). Greengrass is a terrific director and I feel his would have been an interesting meditation on the themes of the novel... oh well. Still looking forward to Snyder's version. Read More
Posted on Tuesday March 3, 2009, 10:50 by lisamoorish
Even updated to today, he would've no doubt made a brilliant film - the guy just doesn't do mediocre. Read More
11
Paul Greengrass
Posted on Tuesday March 3, 2009, 10:39 by aka_sammym
I always think about what Paul Greengrass's version would have been like. He was going to update it to modern times, which even if don't agree with doing it, was still a really ambitious thing to do. But, if you look at all the directors attached over the years, the pedigree is really special. Bring on friday Read More
12
Nice going
Posted on Monday March 2, 2009, 21:48 by moviebuff_11
You put together an interesting array of facts, not like Totalfilm's bulls**t attempts to 'entertain' or 'inform' Read More
13
Nice going
Posted on Monday March 2, 2009, 21:47 by moviebuff_11
You put together an interesting array of facts, not like Totalfilm's bulls**t attempts to 'entertain' or 'inform' Read More
14
Interesting Stuff
Posted on Monday March 2, 2009, 18:00 by Roll
Thanks for this Empire. Can't wait for the film! Read More
