ROTTEN TOMATOES: "Dawn of the Dead" Director to Tackle "Watchmen"

"Dawn of the Dead" Director to Tackle "Watchmen"

by Scott Weinberg | June 23, 2006

Tons of filmmakers have tried to mount a big-screen version of Alan Moore's "Watchmen," but they've all fallen by the wayside for one reason or another. Stepping up to the plate now is "Dawn of the Dead" director Zack Snyder, who aims to helm "Watchmen" for Warner Bros. and soon as he finishes up on "300." (Which also sounds pretty awesome.)

According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Zach Snyder has come aboard to develop and direct "Watchmen," the seminal DC Comics limited series created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, for Warner Bros. Pictures. Alex Tse is writing the script of the long-gestating project, which is being produced by Larry Gordon and Lloyd Levin. "Watchmen" has a development history almost as epic as the story the comic tells. The project has seen such studios as Fox, Universal and Paramount come and go and has seduced and vexed such filmmakers as Terry Gilliam, Darren Aronofsky, Paul Greengrass and screenwriter David Hayter. Sources say Snyder has impressed Warners with "300," an adaptation of a Frank Miller graphic novel that he directed and co-wrote. Snyder shot the movie -- a Greek epic about the battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. -- on soundstages in Montreal using partial sets and greenscreens, similar in technique to Robert Rodriguez's "Sin City."

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(1-13 of 13 posts) | Reply

Alxotty writes:
on Jun 23 2006 04:17 AM

Please let this fail. Watchmen can't be a movie, ever. Gilliam was right, it could only work as a 10+ part miniseries.

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t-joint writes:
on Jun 23 2006 06:10 AM

In reply to this comment (#838777)
Fail? Or never be made? I'm sure you mean that you'd prefer to see this pic die in production hell like Preacher than to see it fail in theatres and be thought of as just another bad comic adaptation, right? If that were so, I'd have to agree.

Still, I see the addition of Snyder as a good thing. He forever endeared me to his filmmaking style with his "$hit-your-pants-and-cry-for-mommy" opening from DOD. I could only hope for such gut-wrenching tension in the final moments in Veidt's sanctum.

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IMAmoose24 writes:
on Jun 23 2006 06:12 AM

You may be right, but i would like to see what they could come up with for a movie. I loved the novel and i hope to god they wont screw it up.

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lonechicken writes:
on Jun 23 2006 08:02 AM

Yeah miniseries, or better yet... put together a quality mature script, get quality animators on it (not necessarily big budget), market and sell it as a DVD boxset.

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winterchili writes:
on Jun 23 2006 09:46 AM

[b]nonono[/b]
this is a project that could only be done by a Kubrick-skill level director

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hellhole writes:
on Jun 23 2006 11:35 AM

Maybe if they make this poorly enough, it will tank so badly that everyone will forget it even existed within weeks. There's always hope.

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elziard writes:
on Jun 23 2006 11:51 AM

we all realize what this NEEDS: space(mini series) or genius (or both).
it will get neither and be mediocre and we'll continue to say the graphic novel is amazing.

regardless, it will be a feature film so what can be done given the limitations?
V, in my opinion was successful in its streamlining of the GN, so what could get trimmed yet still retain the integrity of Watchmen?
i truly think anything of substance involving Doctor Manhattan will be written out. too 'out there' for the general public. also a support for this theory: it'll be too superman as 'returns' re-acclimates the world to the plight of super powers.
i see it more as a Rorschach and Nite Owl buddy pic (not leathal weapon-like) but the core of the storytelling wil involve them. and the romance of Silk Spectre II and NO will still be there but i doubt the range will be the triangle of Manhattan-NO-SS will be in the film.

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Callpacas writes:
on Jun 23 2006 12:07 PM

a trilogy then...and there were sets in Sin City? =)

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lovelykeira writes:
on Jun 23 2006 12:12 PM

Hopefully its way better than any of the movie's allready based off of Moore's works. Because so far they all have been very dissapointing.

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taran72 writes:
on Jun 23 2006 12:49 PM

Watchmen fans are screwed. I'm not sure why anyone here thinks the first 10 minutes of DoD qualifies Zack for this delicate project. Pray it never reaches production.

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FireflyFan4evr writes:
on Jun 23 2006 04:24 PM

I'm one of the few people that actually really enjoyed his take on "Dawn of the Dead", however I do NOT think that he should direct the definitively greatest graphic novel / comic book in history. Especially being that Watchmen will be incredibly difficult to do in one 2-3 hour movie, it should be handled by someone experienced in making difficult / epic films.

If I were to pick a director, it would have to be Steven Speilberg, Peter Jackson, or Christopher Nolan, NOT Zack Snyder. No offense to Snyder, but I think he should stick to what he's decent at doing, such as full blown action films, not a piece based around deeply complex characters.

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Kinchyle writes:
on Jun 23 2006 04:39 PM

I say give it to David Milsch from Deadwood to produce. He's got a great stable of writers and directors to tap who have proven they can maintain characterization and atmosphere. Make it a 12 episode season, air it on HBO and then pimp the DVDs like there's no tomorrow.

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dylan21484nj writes:
on Jun 23 2006 06:04 PM

this is underwhelming news. yes, the Dawn of the Dead remake was damn good, but i'd be more comfortable with a director better known for serious dramas or thrillers like a Bryan Singer or a Chris Nolan.

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