ROTTEN TOMATOES: Zack Snyder Chats About "Watchmen"

Zack Snyder Chats About "Watchmen"

by Scott Weinberg | June 11, 2007

Not even in pre-production and already it's one of the most talked-about adaptations in quite some time...

The good news is here: Zack Snyder's "Watchmen" adaptation will begin shooting this September up in Canada. Cool. The director also insists that he'll find a spot for his "300" buddy Gerard Butler, and when asked if he's been courting actors like Keanu Reeves, Jude Law, and Patrick Wilson, well, he didn't deny any of it:

Quote:

"Um — you know what? I would say 'No,' but then you'd call me later and go like, 'Dude, what are you doing?' " Snyder laughed. "I don't know who's leaking this stuff, but they're good."

Snyder is presently finishing up the screenplay, specifically working on an opening scene involving someone called "The Comedian." Sounds pretty cool.

For the rest from the very enthused filmmaker, check out the full article at MTV Movies.

Related Items

Celeb:	Zack Snyder
	Keanu Reeves
	Gerard Butler
	Jude Law
	Patrick Wilson
Movie:	300
	Watchmen

(1-20 of 26 posts) | Reply

blank blank writes:
on Jun 11 2007 06:30 AM

i read this last week. RT is getting slow.

(Reply to this)

IMAmoose24 writes:
on Jun 11 2007 07:49 AM

One of the most groundbreaking novels of all time. I'm hoping this turns out good.

(Reply to this)

Crenshaw writes:
on Jun 11 2007 07:58 AM

Umm... Keanu Reeves? As Dr. Manhattan? Whoa.

(Reply to this)

Pumpkinking14 writes:
on Jun 11 2007 08:04 AM

you would think the people at RT who post these things would be familiar with the source material...when you write something like "...[he's] working on an opening scene involving someone called "The Comedian." Sounds pretty cool," it makes the writer sound uninformed, as if they think Snyder is making this stuff up. Meanwhile, it's based on one of the most important novels of the 20th century...I fear for this film.

(Reply to this)

Gimy writes:
on Jun 11 2007 08:39 AM

didn't read the book, really couldn't careless...but anything snyder does i'll go see. seeing those posters though...the 300 dvd can't get here fast enough

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elziard writes:
on Jun 11 2007 08:44 AM

as with any alan moore adaption, i'm looking forward to this. and since the care and attention garnered to V for Vendetta, it's the first time with anticipation, devoid of skepticism.

(Reply to this)

Pirate Steve writes:
on Jun 11 2007 10:31 AM

The Comedian is my favorite character hope they don't screw up.

(Reply to this)

Vitamin M writes:
on Jun 11 2007 11:08 AM

In reply to this comment (#868838)
Pumpkin, your right to fear the ability of this site to provide you with an infromed opinion but I wouldn't place those fears on Snyder, so far in two films the guy has destroyed expectations (in a good way) here's hoping he does it again.

(Reply to this)

Ashron writes:
on Jun 11 2007 11:35 AM

In reply to this comment (#868838)
I really feel for these guys at RT. They do their best to bring news items and all they get is snide comments by faceless internet goons. So he didn't read Watchmen, big effing deal. Maybe he had something better to do, doesn't make him a bad person. They're only human, they can't possibly have seen and done everything. Maybe he doesn't like graphic novels, so what?

One of the most important novels of the 20th century? Yeah. Hyperbole Man called, he wants his tights back.

Here's my suggestion to all the people who hate this (free) site and feel like ragging on the people who run it: Start your own site and see if you can become anywhere near as successful.

(Reply to this)

thetruebastard writes:
on Jun 11 2007 11:43 AM

In reply to this comment (#868843)
How is it not of the most important novels of the 20th century? It redefined super heroes, successfully used a plethora of literary devices, and had the most unexpected ending of almost any 20th century novel. It's a pretentious little bastard that actually works.

(Reply to this)

Ryan_Dillon writes:
on Jun 11 2007 11:47 AM

Cant Wait!

(Reply to this)

taran72 writes:
on Jun 11 2007 12:10 PM

In reply to this comment (#868838)
Your fear is well placed...no offense to Zack, but The Watchmen isn't some comic period puff-piece like 300. If he's still sorting through actors trying to fit them into roles, then this adaptation is not getting off on the right foot.

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blank blank writes:
on Jun 11 2007 12:11 PM

ashron, watchmen was named one of the 100 best english novels of the 20th century by time magazine, and oh yeah, do-your-research-before-you-talk-sh*t Man wants his tights back.

as for being named a facless internet goon, i think RT has a right to know that they are slipping a little bit with the news. its what the post boards are for (partly at least).

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the-russian writes:
on Jun 11 2007 12:28 PM

In reply to this comment (#868838)
Why would they be familiar w/ the source material? This is a movie site, not a comic site.

One of the most important novels of the 20th century? I'm not sure, but it's easily the greatest graphic novel of all time, imo, even above works like DKR and Maus, which some people consider better. I don't think Snyder's up to it, but it could be worst; they could hire Joel Silver and the Wachowskis and totally butcher the source material.

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bigbrother writes:
on Jun 11 2007 12:46 PM

To defend the site, I consider myself fairly well-read, but I've never heard of the graphic novel The Watchmen until they started making a movie out of it. As Ashron says it's just about impossible to be familiar with every piece of literature someone thinks is the best or most influential. Personally though I've been into comics for a while I've just never gotten into graphic novels, though I like a lot of films based off them. Personally I think there are probably a lot of people who wouldn't know what this is about unless they're part of graphic novel set. I don't think graphic novels have quite made the crossover to mainstream culture yet. BTW for my money Salem's Lot by Stephen King, best novel of the 20th century, but that's just one man's opinion.

(Reply to this)

okuonuora writes:
on Jun 11 2007 01:08 PM

In reply to this comment (#868847)
Graphic novels aren't novels. They're already-done coloring books.

(Reply to this)

Ashron writes:
on Jun 11 2007 01:14 PM

In reply to this comment (#868847)
I was in a bad mood this morning and snapped more than I normally would, so the hyperbole crack was maybe a bit much. However, there's a big difference between best and most important, so my point still stands, just as my point stands that everyone can't have done everything. How many of the books on that list have you read? I haven't seen the list, but there's probably a lot I haven't read too. (Watchmen is not one of them, I read it when it first came out.)

And there's nothing wrong with telling RT they're slipping on reporting, but to insult someone for something they freely admit just seems petty. Scott could have just as easily have written the article without the editorial comment and it would have been just another news tidbit. But part of the reason I come to RT, aside from the (mostly) fun conversations on the forums, is because of the news articles that seem to be written by movie fans, not just some reporter doing a job, so I think it best to let them have their foibles like the rest of us, without riding them too hard about it.

That's all I was trying to say.

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oldnoakes writes:
on Jun 11 2007 01:31 PM

In reply to this comment (#868850)
An uniformed opinion: "Graphic novels aren't novels. They're already-done coloring books. "

poster, you are a waste of space.

graphic novels are indeed artistic work, better than most of the best seller crap that authors churn out.

those people who criticize graphic novels usely have never read them and are pretentious a**holes.

Anyone who hasn't read this graphic novel should read it. especially if they have any appreciation/nostalgia of super hero comics. it takes the whole genre and decontructs it, and is also a commentary on society in general, but particularly the cold war era. watchmen is a great story that rises above most comic stories.

Alan Moore is a very creative writer and has a lot to say about the problems of society. He takes subject material that is considered low form and makes it high form. He easily belongs in the ranks of Art Spiegleman and others. (And if you don't know who Art Spiegleman is, pick up: MAUS I and II and In the Shadow of No Towers.)

Open your minds people! Go to a library. Check out a graphic novel. You have nothing to loose and everything to gain.

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laika86 writes:
on Jun 11 2007 01:55 PM

Ugh...I'll pass on this one. No matter how good the source material is (I've never heard of it but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt...and I love genre deconstructions), Zack Snyder is a hack. Was Michael Bay busy?

(Reply to this)

obsolete8210 writes:
on Jun 11 2007 02:39 PM

In reply to this comment (#868854)
[b]whatever[/b]
go away.

(Reply to this)