Aint it cool has a good story on the current status of the Watchmen movie as well as clues about the cast. One of the clues mentions that the Comedian will be played by someone who the producer, Lloyd Levin, has produced before. I'm thinking Burt Reynolds (Levin produced Boogie Nights) and I'm totally stoked. http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=20181
I think, according to the clues its: Comedian: Ron Perlman "who the hell" Hellboy Nite Owl II: Joaquin Phoenix "attention to the signs" Signs Silk Spectre II: Hilary Swank "Oscar-winning actress; pay her, baby" Million Dollar Baby In other Alan Moore movie news, Jame Purefoy (V) dropped out of V for Vendetta and has been replaced with Hugo Weaving.
Some of those superhero outfits are going to need some serious updating. And how will they portray the naked blue guy?
Yeah, I read that piece earlier this morning. It sounds good, but it almost sounds like a plant. I mean, the AICN guy made it sound like everything is perfect which can't possibly be true. What would the filmmaker's motivations be for giving the reporter all that access? Maybe they hope that an internet groundswell will help get the film greenlit. Well, if that's the case, then they must have give AICN some ground rules (i.e. give it a positive spin) before giving them so much access. I wouldn't mind having seen at least a couple production/costume design sketches as proof. Having said all that, it sounds promising. And I do believe in David Hayter. mleahy999 -- the article discusses how they'll handle the blue guy in detail. It also says that some of the goofier costumes will be intact so we can see how people in the movie react to them.
That's Moriarty, he's a regular writer for AICN. He gets this kind of access because AICN is still considered to be the nexus of movie geeks, according to people in the business. People say they aren't objective because they are bought off with the trips and access they get. I imagine it would be pretty hard to say bad things about people's work after you've met them and sat down and talked with them. The way I see is they only accept these trips when it's for something they already feel like they are going to like.
Oski, I know it's Moriarty -- I read AICN all the time. But usually Moriarty's "access" comes in the form of a screenplay that shows up at his doorstep or him getting tickets to some party. This one -- sitting down with the screenwriter, director, and production designer while also screening test footage -- went above and beyond the kind of access they usually get. Look, I'm a HUGE Watchmen fan -- I just don't want to get my hopes up is all!
Oh, my bad, you were describing his enthusiasm as making him sound like a plant, not actually thinking he was. I think with all the access he got, it's got to do with Paramount having second thoughts on the movie. I'm sure the filmakers are all posturing when they are talking about how confidant they are that it'll be made, but deep down, they know they've got to battle with the new studio heads. So all this access could be a start at building interest and buzz on the film. Honestly, there's no way a movie could be just as good as the book, when has that ever happened? It does seem like they have the spirit down and I think the people making it are fans of the work and very devoted to getting it right. I also hope they can cast some fans. I know Jude Law is a huge fan and desperately wants to be in it, though that was back when Aronofsky was still directing.
My respect for Jude Law just shot way up! (I think the Brad Pitt/Veidt suggestion is better though. Kind of like an evil genuis version of Pitt's Ocean's Eleven character...)
Yeah I guess Perlman's the obvious choice from the clue. I never saw Hellboy so he didn't stick out. Swank would be good, but I think she is too young. As for the "signs"/ Niteowl bit, I think Mel Gibson would be better than Pheonix again just for the age. I've always wanted Beau Bridges for that part. Still holding out for Burt as the Comedian. Think he'd be perfect.
Word is that David Hayter has written a great script that has accomplished just that. Basically, he's trimmed the fat (pirate story, news stand stuff) and put the focus on the main story only.
Fairly badly, I'm guessing. Plus this story has an ending that's just going to confuse and piss people off. If I were a big studio, no way I'd fund it, and I'm a huge fan.
It's dead again. http://superherohype.com/news.php?id=3108 Paramount Puts Watchmen into Turnaround Source: Variety June 7, 2005 Paramount has officially pulled the plug on Watchmen, putting the comic book adaptation into turnaround over the weekend. Producers Larry Gordon and Lloyd Levin were taking the project, with British director Paul Greengrass ("The Bourne Supremacy") attached, out to other studios. Variety says the film, based on the DC Comics series of the same name, came under heavy scrutiny in the wake of Paramount chief Brad Grey's surprise move to replace Donald De Line with Gail Berman as studio president in late March. De Line found out about the change while in London meeting with Greengrass about Watchmen and the need to cut its budget, rumored to be $100 million. Paramount had been aiming for a summer start but began releasing crews working on pre-production at that point. The film was previously set up at Universal Pictures.
It's very sad, especially since Watchmen looked like it was going to be very faithful to the source material while V for Vendetta is starting to sound horrible and it seems Joel Silver is a real dick. Turns out he lied his ass off during that first press conference is saying that they were trying to work with or already were working with Alan Moore. He's so pissed he asked that his name be completely taken off that movie and he's leaving DC/Vertigo. I read a script review where they posted the first lines from V in the script when he saves Eve. They have him going on this ridiculous speech where he over uses alliteration with words starting with "V." And at the end of the movie, *Spoiler* The people revolt and all run around wearing V costumes. As the reviewer who pointed this out wondered, I too am curious where these people all of the sudden got their hands on Guy Fawkes masks and the exact same hat and costume as V. *End Spoiler* Anyways, I hope another studio takes a chance on it. I know Watchmen won't be a popcorn flick like say Fantastic 4, but I hope Batman Begins will show that it's ok to make an intelligent movie based on comic book characters.
I agree V is starting to sound pretty scary. Alan Moore disavowing it is pretty frightening... after all, he kept his name on "From Hell" and "LXG." *shudder* I'm actually kind of glad they're putting Watchmen back on the shelf. I just can't see it turning out as anything other than "Mystery Men" crossed with "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen 2." Some (most) comic books just aren't suitable to make the greatest movies.
