Warner Bros. Releases 'Watchmen' Synopsis
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery & Suspense, Warner Brothers, Comic/Superhero/Geek
I'm pretty certain that ComingSoon.net only displays studio-released synopses of movies. If so, the comprehensive preview site (probably my favorite) has the official plot information for Watchmen. The synopsis doesn't go into too much detail, but it gives enough background to say all it needs to. For instance, it mentions that it takes place in an alternate 1985 and that the American-Soviet relationship is very tense. It also gives Rorschach by name as seemingly the protagonist of the story, while the Comedian is referred to as "one of his former colleagues" and the rest of the 'masks' are described as "a ragtag group of retired superheroes." Ragtag? Sounds like they're going to start a football league and have some sad-state actor coach them all. The last sentence of the synopsis, as could be expected, includes the following: "who is watching the watchmen?"
In a couple weeks we should (hopefully) have an official cast list to go with this official synopsis. So far, we're expecting the cast to include Patrick Wilson, Billy Crudup, Jude Law, Jackie Earle Haley, Thomas Jane and Gerard Butler (I don't believe the Kate Winslet rumor at all). With director Zack Snyder expected to appear at Comic-Con, he may give more details about the plot, too. I figure that most everything from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon's graphic novel will end up on the screen, maybe in an abridged way, except for the stuff with the newsstand and the shipwreck comic book story that parallels the real plot. Screenwriters David Hayter and Alex Tse may also have eliminated some of the back story and/or the slow parts involving Dan/Nite Owl and Laurie/Silk Spectre. I think Jon/Doctor Manhattan will also have his costume throughout, or at least some pants. Filming on Watchmen is set to begin in a few months, and the movie will hit theaters next summer.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-17-2007 @ 10:42AM
Jen said...
Perhaps I will have finally finished "Watchmen" by the time the film is released...
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7-17-2007 @ 11:10AM
The Addict said...
"except for the stuff with the newsstand and the shipwreck comic book story that parallels the real plot."
Funny that...Snyder has actually mentioned that nobody before him has included the Tales of the Black Freighter, hinting that it will be included.
And Jen - you must finish that book. It's easily taken the top spot on my favorite novels list.
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7-17-2007 @ 11:50AM
stomachworm said...
I can't believe anything about this movie (including it's production) until my ass is in the theatre seat. They have talked about this making this movie since I was still a teen (now 36).
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7-17-2007 @ 12:00PM
bovious said...
Interesting about the Black Freighter, Addict, thanks for the detail. If they can't get it into the movie (you know...studios...) maybe they can do an animated backgrounder similar to those things they did with the Matrix and Star Wars.
Y'know, I've read the thing 3 times now and never really considered that only one of the fighters had "true powers." Of course, I had to know it. Maybe Rorschach's rage is his power.
Crime makes him so angry...he's invincible!
Oh, wait, that was Mr. Furious.
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7-17-2007 @ 12:33PM
mish said...
Great that they're potentially keeping it in 1985.
All this is well and good, but I still don't see how they are going to film the ending. Think that has been by far the biggest hurdle to get over in terms of the adaptation.
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7-17-2007 @ 12:50PM
Sam G. said...
I still don't want this filmed.
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7-17-2007 @ 12:54PM
Rich said...
I am still not sure the general movie going audience is ready for a non-action superhero movie.
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7-17-2007 @ 3:53PM
Mike said...
I'm with Sam. So far Hollywood is 0-for-every attempt to do a good adaptation of Alan Moore's work. Cutting out backstory will only serve to make the characters shallow and less interesting and end up with you typical Hollywood two-bit villains and good guys. This movie would have to be 3-hours minimum to tell (very well) 40% of the story. I can't see a movie audience sitting through a 3 hour character driven drama. While 300 was a good adaption there wasn't enough story for a movie and it needed padding and extended action sequence for a movie length. Watchmen doesn't have any spare story that doesn't add much to the story. Even minor characters introduce important information.
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