Yep, production has begun on a movie version of Alan Moore/Dave Gibbon's "Watchmen". It's scheduled for release in 2009, and is directed by Zack '
300' Snyder. Other interesting pieces of information include:
- The part of Doctor Manhattan was originally pencilled in for Keanu Reeves.
- The script apparantly takes some liberties with the original book: The first draft apparantly had a 'happier' ending, whereas the current draft apparantly wants to keep the 'spirit' of the original. To that end, they've
replaced the genetically-engineered living bomb with a giant laser from space .
- The script also is more action oriented. One reviewer of the script, at
http://latinoreview.com/scriptreview.php?id=27 said that "In [writer ][/writer]’s draft we see Rorschach, the crazy vigilante, fighting cops in almost every single scene that he’s in. Dr. Manhattan, the only character with real superpowers, teleports out of conversations to stop Islamic terrorists from nuking the Port of Long Beach. It’s like someone told Tse to include an action scene every seven or eight pages".
- Also in the works is a Watchmen videogame.
- I am not making any of this shit up. Look up the wikipedia article if you want.
Anyway, I'm off to run through the streets shrieking in pain and rage... Feel free to post your horrified/nauseated/shocked reactions.