(Left) Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch in ‘Bosch: Legacy.’ Photo: Tyler Golden. Copyright: Amazon Freevee. (Center) Katee Sackhoff attends the studio showcase panel at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California on May 26, 2022. Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney. (Right) Matthew Rhys in ‘The Americans’. Photo: FX Productions.
Preview:
- Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen has been adapted into an animated movie.
- Titus Welliver, Katee Sackhoff and Matthew Rhys are leading the cast.
- J. Michael Straczynski wrote the two-part adaptation.
‘Watchmen’ still stands as one of the most influential graphic novels of all time and has been a big challenge to adapt.
It doesn’t help that original co-creator Alan Moore (who crafted the book with artist Dave Gibbons) is no fan of anyone trying to convert his work into a new medium.
We can only imagine, then, that he’s busy conjuring a damning spell to thwart the latest effort, but he’s too late –– after being announced at last year’s Comic-Con, an animated, two-part movie called ‘Watchman: Chapter I’, based on the graphic novel is on the way (and has been in the works since at least 2021), with Matthew Rhys, Katee Sackhoff and Titus Welliver in the lead roles.
In an alternate world history shaped by superheroes, once-celebrated “costumed adventurers” have been banned by a society disenchanted with vigilantism. Now, in… Read the Plot
What’s the story of the ‘Watchmen’ animated movie?
Doctor Manhattan in ‘Watchmen: Chapter 1’. Photo: DC Studios.
The movie will once again bring to screens Moore and Gibbons’ story, published in 1986 and set in an alternative world in which costumed vigilantes are real. Inspired by Moore being unable to use some of DC’s big name characters, he created his own alternates and challenged the nature and morality of superhero storytelling.
Rhys will voice Dan Dreiberg (aka Nite Owl), Sackhoff will voice Laurie Juspeczyk (aka Silk Spectre), while Welliver will voice Walter Kovacs (aka Rorschach).
Troy Baker will voice Adrian Veidt (aka Ozymandias), while Michael Ceveris will voice Jonathan Osterman (aka Dr. Manhattan).
Who else is in the new ‘Watchmen’ movie?
The Comedian in ‘Watchmen: Chapter 1’. Photo: DC Studios.
Rick D. Wasserman is playing Edward Blake (aka The Comedian), Adrienne Barbeau voices Sally Jupiter (aka the first Silk Spectre), Jeffrey Combs is Edgar Jacobi (aka Moloch), Geoff Pierson plays Hollis Mason (aka the first Nite Owl), Corey Burton voices Captain Metropolis, John Marshall Jones is Hooded Justice, Yuri Lowenthal plays Wally Weaver, and Kari Wahlgren is the voice performer for Janey Slater.
Grey DeLisle, Kelly Hu, Max Koch, Phil LaMarr, Dwight Schultz and Jason Spisak are voicing unspecified roles.
Related Article: Titus Welliver and Mimi Rogers Talk ‘Bosch: Legacy’ Season 2 and Beyond
Who is working on the new ‘Watchmen’ movie?
Rorschach in ‘Watchmen: Chapter 1’. Photo: DC Studios.
Both parts of the movie have been adapted by ‘Babylon 5’ creator J. Michael Straczynski, though he has confirmed on social media that he’s not made huge changes to the scripts:
I can now talk about it as the news is breaking. I adapted WATCHMEN for Warners animation. By “adapted” I mean strictly configuring the structure to work in a movie. I saw no need to write more material or change what works in the book. It’s pure Moore. https://t.co/iy4Q0yqW61
— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) July 10, 2024
Warner Animation veteran Brandon Vietti is in the director’s chair for both chapters.
What other adaptations have there been?
2009’s ‘Watchmen.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
‘Watchmen’ has been targeted several times for adaptation, including by a variety of filmmakers who tried, but couldn’t make it happen; Terry Gilliam, David Hayter, Darren Aronofsky among them.
Zack Snyder finally succeeded, with his (mostly) faithful live-action adaptation debuting in 2009 to mixed reviews and $185.3 million worldwide. It was supported by its own animation, a take on the graphic novel’s story-within-the-story ‘Tales of the Black Freighter’.
Damon Lindelof won praise for his 2019 HBO series, which continues the story 30 years after the events of the graphic novel, drawing from the canon history but also going off in interesting new directions.
When will ‘Watchmen: Chapter I’ be on screens?
Rorschach in ‘Watchmen: Chapter 1’. Photo: DC Studios.
The first Chapter will debut on August 13th for digital purchase and on August 27th on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. ‘Watchmen Chapter II’ will be released in late 2024.
Find the trailer for Chapter I below:
Doctor Manhattan in ‘Watchmen: Chapter 1’. Photo: DC Studios.