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Gerard Butler Talks Black Freighter
Exclusive: On The Watchmen DVD extra!
28 February 2008 | Written by Chris Hewitt |
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It’s been rumoured 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 materialised, 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.
“I’m going to do the voice of the captain,” said Butler. “They’re going to do it in the style of a Japanese anime and I’m totally stoked.
“I actually read the script before reading the comic book and I thought it was awesome,” continued the 38 year-old. “Then I read the comic book and it’s great. The little bits that have been added define it so much more. It’s very dark and there’s just something so descriptive and scary. It’s this descent into madness but explained in such a sane way that you totally feel it yourself. By the end, my heart was pumping!”
Although considered extraneous to the plot of the movie proper by Snyder and his predecessor, Paul Greengrass, Tales Of The Black Freighter is a story that deepens the impact of Watchmen’s main plot, mirroring the arc of a character we won’t reveal.
As a side project, the anime approach is brave and the addition of Butler – who has a great speaking voice – makes this even more exciting. Let’s hope he keeps that Scottish burr.
Watchmen will be released next March. |
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| I Like This! | Wow, Zack Snyder is like the best! There was always rummours about it and I'm glad it's true. I'm a good film of Anime movies and now it's boosted the level up a bit more. I hope his Scottish purr is in the vocals, he's got a sexy voice alongside a nice face! More
Posted by joanna likes films at 11:28 on 29 February 2008 | Report This Post | | | | | Shouldn't they keep this a secret? | Looking forward to this film, but they should keep this under wraps to surprise the fans who actually read the comic. More
Posted by H is the greatest at 19:44 on 28 February 2008 | Report This Post | | | | | OH YEAH | I'm looking forward to Watchmen more and more now that King Leonidas is on board as part of the support story. It's great that Tales of the Black Frieghter is being made as even if appears in only the DVD/Blu-Ray release as it is an important part of Watchmen. More
Posted by Taz69 at 18:24 on 28 February 2008 | Report This Post | | | | | Interesting... | Great to see Butler's on board after all - Zack's hinted that the Black Freighter might still make the final film if it works better with rather than without.
Very interested in the anime idea! Zack's said the movie will comment on recent comic book movies, so will this comment on the dominance of anime in comic book animation now?
I don't think its a bad idea - we were never shown all of the Black Freighter story and so it doesn't need to be 100% faithful.
I think rotoscoping would've been c More
Posted by AYBGerrardo at 18:22 on 28 February 2008 | Report This Post | | | | | RE: Gerard Butler Talks Black Freighter | Awesome news! I loved the Anime part in Kill Bill Vol 1. This is a good move by Snyder, but i do think the studio should grow a pair and allow this to be spliced into the theatrical cut of the movie. It adds depth and an extra sinister edge to an already deep and sinister plotline,....this can only be good methinks!!
Oh,...... and Butler doing the voice is good news too! More
Posted by lukeyboy at 17:32 on 28 February 2008 | Report This Post | | | | | Best comic movie ever? | Seriously, this COULD be genuinely amazing. I think it would be a big leap from 300, which was great but "just" entertaining, whilst Watchment is the Godfather, Citizen Kane, and Star Wars of comic books, but I have skyhigh hopes... More
Posted by britesparc at 17:08 on 28 February 2008 | Report This Post | | | | | why is everything being done in bloody anime at the moment? Sorry but the black freighter wont fucking work in an anime style. Why cant they just use straight, traditional animation. More
Posted by clarkkent at 16:59 on 28 February 2008 | Report This Post | | | | | |
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