Wednesday, September 3

• New Court Date Means Watchmen Moves Forward as Planned

  Fans of the upcoming Watchmen flick received a welcome shot in the arm yesterday when the federal judge presiding over the ongoing legal battle over the film's rights set a trial date of January 6, 2009. Fox, the studio seeking to halt Warner Bros.' big-budget adaptation of Alan Moore's landmark graphic novel, had reportedly been seeking a June trial -- well after the film's scheduled March 6, 2009 release date -- in the hopes of forcing Warners to delay Watchmen's premiere indefinitely.

  According to The Hollywood Reporter, presiding Judge Gary Alan Feess also instructed that Fox should "forgo any attempt to get a preliminary injunction against Warners to stop the release of the film because the issues were far too complex to be resolved on an interim basis."

  Roughly translated: All signs point to Watchmen opening as planned on March 6, 2009. Fanboys, you are now free to resume quivering in giddy anticipation.
  

  
  

  Posted 09/03/2008 by Thomas

  Watchmen

Monday, August 25

• Kevin Smith Loves Watchmen...with Profane Vagueness

  When Watchmen, Zack Snyder's $100-million translation of the classic Alan Moore graphic novel finally comes out in March, it will get the usual 100-word capsule reviews in all the best glossy magazines. In other words, people will still be interested in it, but not that interested. Because then it will be a movie playing in theaters, instead of an object of endless, abstract speculation. In its current incarnation, of course, it's eminently more fascinating. Thus, Entertainment Weekly devotes 624 words to Kevin Smith's reaction to an early screening of the movie -- never mind the fact that Kevin Smith doesn't actually say anything about Watchmen that the long-dead thumb of Gene Siskel couldn't have said, too, in a much more eloquent and witty fashion.

  
  

  Posted 08/25/2008 by reelz

  Dailies | Zack Snyder | Watchmen

Tuesday, August 19

• Lawsuit Threatens Watchmen
  

  After persevering through decades of development hell and withstanding the protestations of hordes of naysayers (including author Alan Moore), the long-awaited film adaptation of Watchmen may be on the verge of pulling up lame mere inches before the finish line, thanks to a recent ruling by federal Judge Gary Allen Feess. In a move that shocked Hollywood, Feess denied a motion by Warner Bros., the studio backing director Zack Snyder's upcoming comic book flick, to dismiss a lawsuit brought on by 20th Century Fox. It seems that Fox, who tried and failed to get the project off the ground before Warners, may still own the rights to the property. Since the legal proceedings are just beginning, it could take months to sort out the matter.

  Most cynical observers would rightly assume that Fox is merely angling to get a piece of the pie on what could be an extremely profitable endeavor, but the following quote from Variety should send chills down the spine of any self-respecting fanboy:

  "Surprisingly, Fox said it would rather see the film killed instead of collecting a percentage of the box office."

  Wow -- some mighty vindictive folks over in Fox-land. Either that, or someone there really likes Alan Moore.
  

  
  

  Posted 08/19/2008 by Thomas

  Watchmen

Tuesday, August 12

• New Watchmen Posters

  New Watchmen posters have emerged, featuring all of the comic's iconic characters: Sally Jupiter, Rorschach, The Comedian, Silk Spectre, Nite Owl, Dr Manhattan, and Ozymandias are all featured on their own poster alongside some ominous quotes that make us very excited to see this movie. Check 'em out and keep an eye on ReelzChannel for more Watchmen updates.

  
  

  Posted 08/12/2008 by reelz

  Watchmen

Tuesday, July 29

• Watchmen Cast Interview at Comic-Con

  

  Several Watchmen cast members, including Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, and Jackie Earle Haley took the time to discuss the challenges of working on the movie. If you had any doubts about the integrity of the adaptation, you'll be pleased to read about the process.

  
  

  Posted 07/29/2008 by reelz

  Billy Crudup | Matthew Goode | Jackie Earle Haley | Watchmen

• Zack Snyder Dishes on Watchmen at Comic-Con

  

  Watchmen director Zack Snyder was on hand at Comic-Con to show off the Owl Ship, which is featured in the movie, and to discuss the film. Snyder talks about what it was like to take on such a beloved graphic novel adaptation, and the steps that were needed to ensure the movie's faithfulness to the book.

  
  

  
  

  
  
  Next Showing: Watchmen opens March 6, 2009

  Posted 07/29/2008 by reelz

  Zack Snyder | Watchmen

Friday, July 25

• Take Down Woodward and Bernstein in the New Watchmen Game

  

  Earlier this week, Warner Bros. Interactive announced plans for a new videogame based on Zack Snyder's upcoming movie adaptation of Watchmen -- a head-scratching proposition for anyone familiar with the philosophically intricate, morally complex world of Alan Moore's classic graphic novel.

  Today at Comic-Con, I asked Snyder to shed some light on what fans might expect in the game, billed as a prequel of sorts to the much anticipated movie. "One of the plots -- just to rough it -- is that Woodward and Bernstein are in New York lecturing, and the Comedian assassinates them," Snyder told me. "It's all like that, in that style."

  Watchmen fans will of course remember the Comedian as the ruthless, amoral "mask" in the employ of the U.S. government. His work -- as well as that of god-like Doctor Manhattan -- enables President Nixon to serve five terms in office, according to the novel's alternative history.

  
  

  Posted 07/25/2008 by Thomas

  Watchmen

• Sparkling New Watchmen Footage Unveiled at Comic-Con

  

  Director Zack Snyder wowed attendees of this afternoon's Watchmen panel when he unveiled some dazzling new footage from the film. The awestruck Comic-Con crowd swooned at the new, thoroughly R-rated clip, which featured scenes from the trailer expanded to provide more context.

  Some highlights included: a giant Doctor Manhattan disintegrating a bunch of soldiers in Vietnam, Nite Owl and Silk Spectre II kissing while a mushroom cloud explodes behind them, Rorshach uncovering Comedian's arsenal, Doctor Manhattan creating his Martian castle (my personal favorite), an elderly Nixon turning to face his advisers, and Dollar Bill lying dead after getting his cape caught in the door at the bank.

  Judging from the audience reaction, the new footage ranks on par with Jon Favreau's unveiling of Iron Man footage at last year's Comic-Con.

  
  
  

  Watchmen - Trailer

  Who watches the Watchmen? - Releasing March 6, 2009

  Posted 07/25/2008 by Thomas

  Watchmen

Wednesday, July 23

• New Watchmen Videogame Allows You to Become Your Favorite Dysfunctional Superhero

  Have you ever longed to be one of the Watchmen? Well, now you can -- thanks to the new Watchmen videogame from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

  Ruthlessly torch Viet Cong soldiers as the amoral Comedian! Brutalize criminals to help mask the pain of your traumatic childhood as Rorschach! Vacation on Mars as the world falls apart as the god-like Doctor Manhattan! Get pressured into fighting crime by your insane mother as Laurie Juspeczyk, aka Silk Spectre II!

  According to The Hollywood Reporter, the new game will be available next year on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC.

  Alan Moore must be thrilled.

  
  

  Posted 07/23/2008 by Thomas

  Watchmen

Tuesday, July 22

• Watchmen Trailer

  

  Who watches Watchmen?  You do, because we have the trailer.  And you can also expect plenty of Watchmen coverage at Comic-Con 2008.  Until then, we've got and an exclusive interview with Zack Snyder.
  
  
  

  Posted 07/22/2008 by reelz

  Watchmen

Thursday, July 17

• The Watchmen Trailer Arrives

  It's been quite a week for major movie trailers. Earlier this week, McG gave us a tantalizing glimpse of Terminator Salvation. Now, 300 director Zack Snyder has upped the ante with the debut of a full-length trailer for Watchmen, his much anticipated adaptation of Alan Moore's classic graphic novel. This ain't no teaser, mind you -- it's a two-minute-long, fanboy-reassuring sequence of memorable moments seemingly ripped straight from the pages of the comic book (albeit with some modern stylistic touches). All the major characters are featured -- even Dr. Manhattan in all of his naked blue glory. Check it out over at Empireonline.com.

  Notably, the trailer refers to Watchmen as "The most celebrated graphic novel of all time." Methinks Frank Miller might respectfully disagree.

  UPDATE: Warner Bros. has informed us that an even snazzier HD version of the Watchmen trailer is available over at Apple.com.

  
  

  Posted 07/17/2008 by Thomas

  Zack Snyder | Watchmen

Thursday, March 6

• Watchmen characters unveiled

  A subject of much speculation since 300 director Zack Snyder first began production on Watchmen has been the look of the "costumed heroes" of the long-awaited comic adaptation.. Snyder repeatedly pledged he would remain loyal to Alan Moore's source material, down to the most minute details. But anyone who's read the graphic novel knows that the heroes' outfits aren't the most cinematic and could end up looking ridiculous on the big screen (think Adam West's campy Batman versus Christian Bale's badass Batman).

  Well, we finally have some answers courtesy of Watchmen's official site. Snyder released images of his characters (sans CGI-dependent Dr. Manhattan) and they look quite impressive. Most encouraging is Nite Owl, who had by far the lamest-looking outfit in the comic. (Click the thumbnail on the upper left to view all five of the images.)

  Source: Warner Bros. via JoBlo.com

  
  

  Posted 03/06/2008 by Thomas

  Zack Snyder | Watchmen

Wednesday, February 20

• Watchmen wraps, releases new image

  Watchmen director Zack Snyder left a note on the film's official site yesterday, declaring "It's a wrap!" and thanking his cast and crew for all their hard work. As a special thank-you to fans, he also posted a cool new image from the production (click on the pic to the left for the full-sized version) featuring Watchmen anti-hero Rorschach (played by Jackie Earle Haley) lighting some poor schlub on fire.

  With principal photography finished, Sn