Watchmen co-creator Dave Gibbons chats about the Watchmen movie.

File this in the rumor file, but those attending the San Diego Comic Con next month might get a double dose of Watchmen goodness. First is the rumor attendees might be seeing some of the very first footage from the film during the Dark Knight panel.

The second is Nite Owl’s ship might be on the show floor.

When asked whether Nite Owl’s ship would land at Comic Con, Zack once again tripped over his words and let out that revealing smile as he discussed how expensive it would be to do so. Expensive, but so very sweet. I can only hope that bit is true for you fans out there. The ship is awesome. Really, absolutely awesome.

If this is a life size model that fans can go in and check out for themselves, then that could possibly the most kick-ass memorable moment of the con, and could topple the Mark I armor reveal done last year by Marvel.

via Cinematical

Watchmen director Zack Snyder has selected the winners of the YouTube Veidt Advertising Contest.  Each of the winners will have their commercial appear in the movie, playing on the many television and video monitors scattered throughout the film.

You can see all the winners a over at YouTube

via YouTube

Check out this behind the scenes clip about one of the fire stunts from the film.

More Watchmen news, this time with the release of the 1940’s prop photo used in the film depicting the Minutemen all dolled up in period gear.

At first I thought this was a cheezy fan photo whipped upped by the “community” to throw off real news about the film, but the more I look at it, the more I believe this is the real deal. All the original gang are featured - including Hooded Justice.

Take the jump for the full shot!

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One of the big questions regarding Zach Snyder’s Watchmen movie, was how he was going to deal with the Black Freighter side story. If I remember correctly, there was going to be a special feature on the DVD release that would include the story, but word from the New York Times has Tales of the Black Freighter getting its own direct to DVD movie release.

The immediate goal is for the parallel release to help start a potential new movie franchise. As television advertising becomes less effective because of declining TV viewership, movie studios need to reach a mass audience somehow, and having what amounts to ads sitting on store shelves is seen as a crucial antidote.

The effort is also a way for Warner to get more DVD bang for not many more bucks. The “Watchmen” film, Mr. Synder said, will probably generate at least three DVDs: “Tales of the Black Freighter,” followed about four months later by release of “Watchmen” itself, and then an “ultimate” edition in which the two are edited together into one megamovie.

Also attached to the DVD is a special feature called Under the Hood that examines the characters’ backstories. For those who aren’t familiar with the Watchmen universe, Warner Bros. will also release a dozen 20-30 minute webisodes called The Watchmen Motion Comic.

That sounds like a lot of content to digest before the release of the movie, but should make DVD sales rise prior to the release of the movie.

Are you going to by the Tales of the Black Freighter DVD when it is released? I’m going to hold off because Snyder indicated in the article that everything might be combined into a Watchmen mega movie release.

via New York Times

This is something I just might participate in - after all, it is my professional background.

Here’s a sample commercial to get your creative juices flowing.

All the details can be found over at YouTube

via YouTube Watchmen Movie

EW.com has the first images of the Watchmen action figures based on the upcoming Zack Snyder movie from Warner Bros.

The figures look spectacular, I just hope they are truly action figures instead of nicely molded pieces of plastic that end up as inexpensive maquettes for those who can’t afford the real deal.

If you happen to be in New York and are attending the New York Comic Con, DC Direct will unveil the first four prototypes on Friday, April 18.

BTW: Both figures will arrive in stores in January 2009 with a price tag of $14.99.

via EW.com

The official Watchmen site has been updated to include some of the central characters in their official costumes. I know many people are going to be jumping up and down crying foul when they see the likes of Nite Owl and Silk Spectre, but keep this in mind - these a more than likely promotional posters (sans text) that have been highly stylized going for the Bleach Bypass look.

That being said, I think Nite Owl looks a little too lean, and Ozymandias is missing his great purple outfit. Zack Snyder has said he is going to be faithful to the movie, but now after seeing these images, I’m wonder just how “faithful” the film is going to be.

Take the jump for the images.

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No, I’m not talking about that shipwreck on the LOST island, but rather the comic book story that unfolded in the pages of Alan Moore’s Watchmen.  With the movie adaptation coming to theaters, many have wondered what would happen to the tale of the Black Freighter.   While the adventure won’t appear in the theatrical release, rumor has been spreading that the story would appear on the DVD.

Empire Online seems to back up that rumor in an interview with 300 action star Gerard Butler.

“I’m going to do the voice of the captain,” said Butler. “They’re going to do it in the style of a Japanese anime and I’m totally stoked.

“I actually read the script before reading the comic book and I thought it was awesome,” continued the 38 year-old. “Then I read the comic book and it’s great. The little bits that have been added define it so much more. It’s very dark and there’s just something so descriptive and scary. It’s this descent into madness but explained in such a sane way that you totally feel it yourself. By the end, my heart was pumping!”

Well, well…an anime version of the tale, eh?  Seems a lot of animated features, shorts, shows are getting the anime treatment these days.  Can’t say I’m not surprised, but I can say I can’t for the special edition Blu-ray disc to arrive at my door.

via Empire Online

Now that principle photography for Watchmen has wrapped, Zack Snyder updated his blog to thank everyone involved, including the legion of Watchmen fans who have supported everything he has been doing.

While I’m in the process of thanking people, I figure it’s a good time to say thanks to the Watchmen fans for all of their continued support. Since the crew got wrap gifts, I figured you deserved a little something as well. So, to bring a little closure to the previous “Storyboard” blog, I’ve included a frame from the film that shows what it looks like when it all comes together. Thanks!

Oh yeah, you wanna take the jump for this one!

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Even though Fox is trying to stop Warner Bros. from completing the film, Executive Producer Herb Gains has a report on the final days of shooting.

As we approach the last days of shooting Watchmen — yes, the end is nigh — it’s time to reflect on the whole Watchmen experience. I think back to January 2007 when I first met Zack and he walked me through his drawings for the title sequence. I remember my initial reaction was, How can we shoot all of it? Why do we have to shoot all that? And if we do, how do we shoot all of it? We spent the next two months scouting, researching and budgeting locations all over the world, including Australia, London, Prague, Spain — at one point we even considered New York — and, of course, Los Angeles.

Read the rest of his comments and his thank you to Zack Snyder at the official Watchmen website.

Every bit of news that now comes out about this film, means it is closer to release than every before. I’m so excited!

via Watchmen

Who watches the Watchmen? No one if Fox has its way. The writer’s strike cost Hollywood an estimated 2 billion dollars, and it looks like movie company is trying to recoup some of that lost revenue by suing Warner Bros. over the film rights to the Watchmen movie.

According to an article in the Hollywood Reporter, 20th Century Fox holds the exclusive copyrights and contract rights to the Alan Moore inspired film.

Fox claims that between 1986 and 1990, it acquired all movie rights to the 12-issue DC Comics series and screenplays by Charles McKeown and Sam Hamm. In 1991, Fox assigned some rights via a quitclaim to Largo International with the understanding that the studio held exclusive rights to distribute the first motion picture based on “Watchmen,” according to the lawsuit.

When Largo folded, Fox said the film could be shopped around only when a buy-out price was paid. Now that the film is deep in production under the watchful eye of Zack Snyder, Fox decided it was time to pull its trump card claiming the company never received the fee.

I’ll say one thing about Marvel, creating their own movie company where they control everything is probably the smartest move any comic company could do. It’s a wonder Warner Bros., which owns DC, never came up with the idea to keep its properties in house to avoid this very thing.

While I have only seen a few select shots from the film, if someone like me has been in the know about the Watchmen film, it’s a sure bet Fox knew long before a single frame of film was shot, which makes me believe this lawsuit is nothing more than a way to extort money from the WB. Hurm…

via Hollywood Reporter

Take a look at one of the pieces you’ll be seeing in Dr. Manhattan’s home in the upcoming Watchmen movie.

Warner Bros. has leased the pieces �Hemisphere� by Arlie Regier, �Sphere� by his son Dave Regier, and �Hyperbolic Hexagon II� and �Atomic Flower,� both by Brent Collins. The artwork is being shipped to Vancouver, British Columbia, where filming is under way.

Paul Dorrell, who represents the artists, said the filmmakers apparently saw pictures of the sculptures on the Internet and thought they would be ideal in �Watchmen.�

I did a quick search for the other pieces on the Interwebs and I really like the pieces, and I think they’ll look spiffy in the movie.

via Kansas City Star

What does Zach Snyder think of the first week of shooting? Why not find out for yourself…

via Watchmen Movie