# Watchmen movie is in the works (again) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 3, 2005, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703 "2005-03-03T04:08:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/1 "2005-03-03T04:08:36Z")
According to [this site](http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hp&cf=prev&id=1808406489), the long thought about Watchmen movie has been greenlighted yet again, set for release in 2006. Very dubious about this. First of all Watchment was the first comic written for comics. I just don’t see how they would get the impact in any other medium. When Terry Gilliam was set to direct, it had a least that going for it, but now it seems that Paul Greenglass is set to direct. The only thing by him I’ve seen is the Borne Supremacy which I hated. So, what are your thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/2 "2005-03-03T04:11:50Z")
Well, I would’ve said the same thing about Sin City, but that’s looking like it’ll kick all kinds of ass. But yeah, I’m highly dubious that they could pull it off. Watchmen is at least as complex as LOTR, and PJ had three three-hour long movies, and still barely covered the thing. The movie may be good, but it’ll disappoint the comic’s fans. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/3 "2005-03-03T04:29:30Z")
As I’ve said in the past, the original Watchmen series had a cold war setting that won’t mean as much to a contemporary movie audience. Plus, as the OP said, the series might have been about super-heroes on the surface but its real subject was the medium of comic books itself. And I agree this won’t translate to the big screen. ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/4 "2005-03-03T06:22:42Z")
Terrible idea. The entire point of _Watchmen_, the entire thing that makes it so effective is that it’s a comic about comics - it is about and is defined by its medium in the way that a novel like _Ulysses_ is a “novel’s novel,” or in that _Pulp Fiction_ is a movie about movies. Neither would make sense if transformed to any other medium; _Pulp Fiction_ as a novel would lose the entire thing which makes the film so great - that it’s a movie that reflects “movie.” ---
**Author:** ![bclouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@bclouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bclouse)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/5 "2005-03-03T09:46:49Z")
I find it funny that a graphic novel about superheroes could never reach the same level of sophication in a medium such as film. I don’t believe that Watchmen could ever be made into a good 2-2 1/2 hour film. Hollywood will just ruin it. I think that a tv mini-series is needed just to come close to retaining the amount of story that the original limited series required. But a serious take of people running around in superhero costumes on television would look hokey. This is supposed to be a world where costumed superheroes exist and you need to believe in it. An animated version might work but what’s the point? I’m all for seeing Watchmen on the big screen but I’m just not expecting much. Seeing Rorschach’s mask in action would be a pretty cool thing. ---
**Author:** ![sleeepy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@sleeepy2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeepy2)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/6 "2005-03-03T11:33:47Z")
> [@bclouse](#): > > I find it funny that a graphic novel about superheroes could never reach the same level of sophication in a medium such as film. I don’t believe that Watchmen could ever be made into a good 2-2 1/2 hour film. Hollywood will just ruin it. I think that a tv mini-series is needed just to come close to retaining the amount of story that the original limited series required. But a serious take of people running around in superhero costumes on television would look hokey. This is supposed to be a world where costumed superheroes exist and you need to believe in it. An animated version might work but what’s the point? I’m all for seeing Watchmen on the big screen but I’m just not expecting much. Seeing Rorschach’s mask in action would be a pretty cool thing. I second everything you’ve said. What about “Under The Hood” (IIRC), the novel in the story? That was key to the overall feel of the series. Plus the Watchmen had costumes that were superhero squared. These people would look ridiculous on screen, and changing the costumes would defeat the purpose. [ComicSnob] I guess I just resent that every time a cool new comic comes along, somebody inevitably says they can’t wait for the movie, as if the comic alone is not a valid presentation of the story. Hey, wouldn’t Keanu Reeves be great in Maus! [/ComicSnob] ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/7 "2005-03-03T14:36:45Z")
A friend had pulled a version of the script off the internet back in '95(?) and it was terrible. The script was full of Hollywood cliches and the story had nothing to do with the book. I can’t remember what on earth the actual story was, and it’s probably still floating around somewhere, but if this one follows the same path then it is doomed. I’m not sure why Hollywood needs to use real comic names for the movies when they should tag the flick as ‘Inspired by’ or ‘Based on’. The real comic fans will know the backstory and the characters from that description, and people who don’t know the story or characters are probably going to see it whether it has ‘Hellblazer’ or ‘Constantine’ plastered all over it. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/8 "2005-03-03T14:54:46Z")
There’s a few things that I’m highly skeptical a movie could capture: **The Cold War Feel**. I’ve heard a rumor they’re not setting it during the Cold War, which is a little like not setting **The Hobbit** in Middle Earth. **The comic-within-a-comic**. The conceit that, in a world where superheroes exist, people read comics about pirates just made me very happy. The grue of the comic was very powerful. They could perhaps show a character watching a TV screen of a pirate-show, but it just wouldn’t be as effective, I think. **The journals, articles, etc. at the end of each section**. These were a wonderful way to learn about the world and the characters, and would be lost. It’s great fun to imagine which actors could play which parts, but ultimately I don’t have high hopes for the project. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/9 "2005-03-03T15:25:23Z")
I haven’t read Watchman, so I might not be “getting it” entirely, but I think it could be a good movie if they refocus it on the super-hero world itself. It won’t be the Watchman from the comics, but the idea could be there. Everything about how a comic book world woul really be, in all its glory and crap. Y’know, people dying because Baron von Evil (“That’s pronounced eeeh-Vvvilll!”) blasted a hole in the building, other people just sort of wandering by because there’s not really anything to do, Super villains being executed for mass murder, treason, etc… when they can find a way to do it. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/10 "2005-03-03T16:06:37Z")
There’s no way they’ll even come close to putting this on the screen that will satisfy anyone who liked the book. It has nothing to do with comic book snobbery or completists who will feel devastated if their favorite little bit gets left out. The whole thrust and philosophy of this is so un-Hollywood that it’s incredible. Re-read the ending. Can you _imagine_ a movie, especially a crowd-pleasin’, effects-heavy film (that has to make back its CGI costs) even contemplating filming this? And it’s not just the ending. Watchmen, despite its ultra-superhero hijinks, is really sorta anti-superhero. No one except Dr. Manhattan even has any superpowers, and the book talks a lot about vigilantes and their ethics. Rohrschach is so obsessed weith his role that he doesn’t even bathe, and (appropriately – Moore is so very often literal) sees everything in terms of black and white. Ozymandias is more presentable, but he’s aloof and cold and, in the final analysis, inhuman. The Comedian is practically homicidal. Not likeable people. If they do it, they’ll change it completely, as they did with **The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen** , which sucked out the interesting things along with what was objectionable to the studio heads or the stars. (No way would Connery have played Quartermain if he was portrayed as in the book) It’s possible to construct a good and entertaining film using the skeleton of Watchmen and some of its ideas. It wouldn’t be easy. And I don’t think they’ll even come close to doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Corii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Corii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corii)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/11 "2005-03-03T16:23:03Z")
I don’t think The Watchmen will translate well as a movie at all. I’d be shocked if the ending stayed true to the comic. Rorschach would be turned into a misunderstood, angst-ridden man seeking to punish the criminals that slip past the system, instead of the violent, single-minded and somewhat mentally unhinged vigilante that he is. I’m worried Hollywood will paint the story in shades of pink instead of grey. This makes me think of my favorite Moore graphic novel, V for Vendetta; I think that would translate well into a movie. It’d be a pretty dark and depressing movie, though. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/12 "2005-03-03T16:35:37Z")
> [@smiling bandit](#): > > I haven’t read Watchman, so I might not be “getting it” entirely, but I think it could be a good movie if they refocus it on the super-hero world itself. It won’t be the Watchman from the comics, but the idea could be there. Everything about how a comic book world woul really be, in all its glory and crap. > > Y’know, people dying because Baron von Evil (“That’s pronounced eeeh-Vvvilll!”) blasted a hole in the building, other people just sort of wandering by because there’s not really anything to do, Super villains being executed for mass murder, treason, etc… when they can find a way to do it. Heh. The movie you’re describing would be interesting, but would absolutely not be set in the Watchmen universe. There’s not an abundance of supervillains in it, nor superheroes; there’s mostly just some people wearing masks and beating up criminals and/or innocent victims. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/13 "2005-03-03T16:36:25Z")
> [@sleeepy2](#): > > Hey, wouldn?t Keanu Reeves be great in Maus! Do NOT make me kill you! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/14 "2005-03-03T16:48:02Z")
I’ll tag along with **CalMeachem’s** call that it will be a dramatic change ala LXG. I think the only way to do this is an animated television maxi-series on HBO or Showtime. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/15 "2005-03-03T17:47:39Z")
> [@Corii](#): > > This makes me think of my favorite Moore graphic novel, V for Vendetta; I think that would translate well into a movie. It’d be a pretty dark and depressing movie, though. Check out [IMDB.com](http://IMDB.com), for it is already in preproduction, with a director and a star (Natalie Portman cast as Evey!) ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/16 "2005-03-03T20:18:44Z")
> [@](#): > > There’s not an abundance of supervillains in it, nor superheroes; Ah, that would be hard to make. Well, either way, I’ll reserve judgement on whether or not its any good (knowing it almost certainly won’t be the Wacthman comic which I have not read) until it gets made. However, the Bourne Supremacy guy as the director could be OK. His scenes were too MTV-ish, but he did craft an effective movie overall., with just the right elements of brutal, plausible violence. He might (and I’m not saying its likely, since the movie would be frighteningly dark and probably not have a large audience) make it into a sort of Clockwork Orange thing. Freaks beating the crap out of people, only their criminal targets instead of criminal thugs. But a movie like that would be pretty hard to do. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/17 "2005-03-03T20:41:47Z")
Another ditto for **CalMeachem;** fitting _Watchmen_ into a two-hour movie would be like trying to squeeze three elephants into a Volkeswagen. They can make a movie about superheroes called _Watchmen._ It might be entertaining, and even insightful; but it won’t come close to capturing half the subtleties of the original. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/18 "2005-03-03T21:56:37Z")
It’s just possible to do a 12 1/2-hour maxiseries: each “chapter” getting approximately one hour of screen time with a tension mounting 90 minute finale. It’s presentation could be a lot like “Lost”, with its perfectly interspersed flashbacks and, as a concession to the medium, perhaps surreal narratives (a la HBO’s OZ) and V.O.s’ of various characters (Like Adrian Veidt) reading through their own documentation of the graphic novels interspersed at the beginning and within the actual episode. ---
**Author:** ![Shirt\_Ninja\_13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@Shirt\_Ninja\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirt_Ninja_13)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/19 "2005-03-04T00:28:51Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > It’s just possible to do a 12 1/2-hour maxiseries: each “chapter” getting approximately one hour of screen time with a tension mounting 90 minute finale. > > It’s presentation could be a lot like “Lost”, with its perfectly interspersed flashbacks and, as a concession to the medium, perhaps surreal narratives (a la HBO’s OZ) and V.O.s’ of various characters (Like Adrian Veidt) reading through their own documentation of the graphic novels interspersed at the beginning and within the actual episode. Alright, but the question is who would they get to do the various parts? I mean, if someone could _do_ that, the maxi-series idea (a la “Band of Brothers”), who would people like to see in the various parts? _bamf_ ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703/20 "2005-03-04T00:47:11Z")
Hell, just animate it. It worked reasonably well for another Moore/Gibbons work; _For the Man Who Has Everything_ though in cutting it down to 30 minutes they had to lose a lot. Make three two-hour animated movies, and release the mid-chapter exposition articles as _AniMatrix_-style featurettes available on the internet. Incidentally, when I first heard about the then-upcoming Russel Crowe movie called _Gladiator_, my first thought was “Cool, somebody adapted that Phillip Wylie novel.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watchmen-movie-is-in-the-works-again/292703.md?page=2)