Exclusive: Zack Snyder talks Watchmen The film adaptation is ready to go
A few days ago Empire sat down with director Zack Snyder who, despite exhaustion from putting the final touches on Spartan epic 300 (watch the trailer for that here), found just enough energy to fill us in on the latest goings on with Watchmen. An adaptation has been long in the works for the Alan Moore comic book set in the mid-80s when superheroes are outlawed and now, at last, it seems things are progressing well.
“We’re getting ready to turn a script that we like into this studio,” says Snyder. “They’re pretty excited about it…I think the script that Alex (Tse) has done for us is the closest to the graphic novel it’s been [since development started], for better or for worse. I feel like Alex has done an awesome job. It’s keeping all the things that are cool about the comic”. And despite widespread assumptions, Snyder isn’t planning to update it from its Cold War setting to the present day, despite both eras sharing a political unrest.
“1985’s a problem for people,” he continues. “The Cold War’s a problem for people. But these are things I’ve been trying to [tell people] would be cool. I like that Richard Nixon is the president in it. I think that’s important. Those kinds of things tell you exactly what kind of movie this is – it’s not Fantastic Four, you know”.
Though Snyder’s adopted a heavily stylised, uber-true to the comic look for 300, he doesn’t plan to use any kind of similar blue screen technique for Watchmen. “There are places like Mars and Antarctica [which will need to be blue screen] and then there are certain places where you need to feel the reality…If you look at Sin City, a blue screen city, that’s kind of wrong for Watchmen…There are so many easter eggs in the frames (of the comic) so you want that level of detail in the movie itself. Even though it’s going to be harder to do…I did Dawn of the Dead and now I’ve done 300 and I feel like it’s a combination of the two. I feel like I know how to do it”.
Finally, though the script is almost ready, Snyder insists it’s too early for casting, despite numerous internet speculation (Paddy Considine for Rorschach! – sorry, it’s a habit). “I honestly don’t have anyone at all yet. But there are a lot of people interested. No-one’s seen the script, although I know there are people I could sign up without one”. Adds his producer, and wife, Deborah Snyder: “We’ve been getting a lot of calls since Comic Con…all the people who have clients who are fans of the Watchmen are like ‘Hey, just remember we’re here’".
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L: FoxDhoj
I hope it won't be like the tacky Marvel films. I hope at least it will be done as tastefully-dark-yet-still-fairly-family-friendly as maybe X-Men 2 or Batman Begins, but I think a grittier, V For Vendetta or even Sin City style would work better for Watchmen. If this becomes anything like the League Of Gentlemen, I'll kill myself.
sp;
I agree. Watchmen is a classic graphic novel. The art work, the language and the story are just beautiful. Please, please please do not f**k ... Read More
Ive got doubts. I would dearly love to see Watchmen as a movie but I think that the only way to do it justice would be to make at least two movies from the book. That would ruin the overall effect. The biggest problem is that audiences today need everything explained to them in detail. A superhero must have his origin explained etc. and to do a "scene setter" first movie would damage the flow of the book immensely. For once the characterisation isnt the main thing in the film / book. Its all ab... Read More
this is one of the dumbest adaptations you could think to try and make. Just as 'everything is illuminated' didn't ever manage to indugle half as much as the book did, i feel the same thing about Watchmen. The book is far too vast and the heavy amount of special effects/CGI is just going to ruin it. V for Vendetta was fine, From Hell was also fine, but i can't see this one working. Bring on a Swamp Thing movie instead. ... Read More
even the writer of watchmen doesn't want it made into a film, and who can blame him after what happened to some of his other work (notably the League of Extaordinary Gentlemen and V for Vendetta)?"
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ore's major beef with Hollywood arise from the question of the faithfulness or quality of the cinematic abortions that have been made of his work to date.t=arial]
ng the release of ],terprising soul tried to sue Fox Pictures for plagiarism, claiming that Moore only wrote the comic vers... Read More
This is going to be interesting. Still, I'm a little worried - it's been in development longer than the Bible. Can it work out alright? Let's hope so. ... Read More
I'm really excited about this. Read the novel again earlier this year, and had forgotten what an awesome story it is, hell I'd even forgotten the end.
I'm with Twig, Buscemi would be perfect for Rorschach, and evey movie he's in is better for it.
Can't wait!!! ... Read More
Now, I love my Romero Dawn Of The Dead, almost religiously, but as its own thing, I think Zack Snyder's sequel showed us all what a talented director he is. The Dawn remake was a ride and a half; especially, the first 20 minutes, which excelled in creating frenetic suspense. I have 100% faith that he will make a fab Watchmen. ... Read More
