Watchmen

Genre: Thriller/Science Fiction/Comic Book Adaptation.

Studio: Warner Bros.
Production Company: Unknown.

Project Phase: Development Hell.

Who's In It: No one confirmed as yet.
Who's Making It: Larry Gordon (Producer); Sam Hamm (the last Screenwriter on the project); Terry Gilliam (last considered Director); based on the comic book series created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, published by DC Comics.

Premise: It's the 1980's and it's a different world. Superheroes have been outlawed, the only ones still in operation under direct control of the United States government. Suddenly, those heroes both still in action and retired find themselves targets by an unseen enemy, who wants to kill them one by one.

Release Date: Unknown.

Comments: Referred to by Terry Gilliam as the War and Peace of superhero comics, Watchmen, along with Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, paved the way for people to actually start taking "funny books" seriously. In fact, it even won a Hugo Award, given out by the World Science Fiction Society, in 1988. Now the question is: can comics' finest work ever be faithfully translated into a film? That question has been asked ever since the final chapter of Watchmen's 12-issue run drew to a close in 1988.

The biggest Hollywood name ever associated to the project was director Terry Gilliam (Twelve Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas). Gilliam eagerly wanted to bring Watchmen to the silver screen in the early part of the 90's, staying attached with the project through two script drafts. Alas, it was not to be. With a projected budget of $100 million (stratospheric and nearly unheard of in those early days in the 90's) and no attached major stars, the project's validity was questions and Gilliam never got the greenlight.

The film adaptation has since been lost in limbo, like some Marie Celeste set adrift upon the Sea of Films That Never Were. Now, the only immediate question is: will the Watchmen film project ever be worked on again?

Rumors: Unknown.

Scoop Feedback: [Page draft submitted by 'Widgett'.]

June 29, 1998... Over at Ain't-It-Cool, Harry mentions Terry Gilliam in the director's chair (which is not news anymore, Terry's a big fan of the series, having been spotted wearing the trademark "smiley face" button) but he also says $100 million plus is in the purse.  Moore himself was apparently approached to screenwrite.  He not only turned the offer down, but told Gilliam he shouldn't make the film, calling such a movie "unmakeable."

Gilliam was apparently on everyone's mind for this film, originally approached by first producer, Joel Silver, and then again in 1996 by whoever picked up the rights after Silver's production fell through (Gordon?).   He has stated that he agrees with Moore, in essence, that the film can't be done.  He has said, "I think it's going to be impossible to make as a film, unless you make it three and a half hours long, which most people aren't going to want."  [Originally appeared in Ain't-It-Cool News, Wizard, Dreams; reported by 'Widgett'.]

September 6, 1998... Corona bouncer Widgett recently got a hold of the Sam Hamm script for this project, and has filed this report:

"God, I'm pissed.  Wait, I'm getting ahead of myself.  I'm scowling right now at a first draft of the screenplay by Sam Hamm, dated 9 September 1988.  That should give you some more of a clue as to how long this sucker's been in development hell.  Anyway, I really liked some of the subtle touches that Hamm provides.  The Vietnam memorial is now a statue of Dr. Manhattan carrying a G.I. and a list of 400 names.  Nixon came out of retirement to be President again and G. Gordon Liddy is now Secretary of State.  I was able to handle some of the changes he made as well, such as there being only one Silk Spectre.  Also, the heroes are known as The Watchmen, when that name was never applied to them in the comic.  In fact, other than that, the screenplay is the comic essentially, which is why I got so excited reading through it, thinking to myself 'Damn, Sam, this is just dead on!'  I felt that through the first 105 pages and then...the cry went out across my apartment, 'LAME! LAME! LAME!'  The incredibly taut ending of the series and the delivery of that bit, "Stop me?  It's already done.  Thirty-five minutes ago, in fact." (or the like) is gone.  Instead you're left with some bizarre time travel/alteration bit which isn't half as interesting as Moore's original climax.  I was quite let down.

"The only thing I took away from this reading is that Watchmen could translate so well and (it seemed) so easily to the big screen that I'm torn between being ecstatic that it could happen or wondering whether or not it should happen at all.  That and I'm reminded how Rorschach is one of the coolest characters ever."

[Widgett's script reviews always go better with Nostalgia.  Medically tested and non-habit forming Nostalgia.  From Veidt Industries.]

December 14, 1998... "To my knowledge, you probably know more about what's happening with Watchmen than myself," Sam Hamm recently told CA's Director Patrick Sauriol when he had the opportunity to talk about his unused draft of Watchmen. Hamm hasn't heard a peep about this project since his involvement with Terry Gilliam's failed attempt a decade ago. If the project ever heats up again Hamm speculates the story's setting in the late 80's may get in the way. "There's so much Cold War stuff that's gone by teens may be left scratching their heads about what's going on. There's a lot you would have to move around." [Thanks to Sam Hamm for cashing in his Veidt Industries stock options.]



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