Watchmen episodes are a prequel to film, novel

23 Comments by Ross Miller Jul 24th 2008 10:15AM
Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action

The two-episode Watchmen series that was announced yesterday will be a prequel, according to a preview from 1UP. You can choose to play as either Nite Owl or Rorschach, with the other controlled by AI or via split-screen co-op, in the time before masked heroes were outlawed.

The third-person action games take place exclusively at night is set to be M-rated. While they brought on some heavy-hitters for the story -- notably Wolverine creator Len Wein and Watchmen illustrator Dave Gibbons -- we're always hesitant when someone other than the original author tries to expand a story. Still, an M-rated series with visuals reportedly "worthy of being a now-generation game" and Rorschach's infamous makeshift flamethrower? We remain cautiously optimistic. Watchmen episodes will be released around the same time as the film (March 6, 2009).

Tags: dave-gibbons, len-wein, nite-owl, rorschach, watchmen

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Kizzle: Jul 24th 2008; 11:00AM

Ugh.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again: this will not end well.

Why can't a comic just be a comic for once? I don't need prequel video games and big budget movies and lunchboxes with behind-the-scenes facts and shoes that have Rorschach's voice going "HURM" every time you take a step.

This will not work as a movie, or as a video game.

StrangeBum: Jul 24th 2008; 11:07AM

I actually think it looks pretty stellar as a movie. A game, I'm not so hopeful for anything great, but the preview for the movie was fantastic. I love this new era of graphic novel movies.

They tend to be fairly visually appealing as well as having some decent story material to back up the pretty factor.

danny.: Jul 24th 2008; 11:08AM

I have some serious doubt that they will pull it off, but I'll still go see it. I'll just have to keep the brain turned off. I can't say why I think so without spoilers, but they can't do the ending properly. Just won't happen.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Jul 24th 2008; 11:54AM

oh baaaw more. No one's saying that the movie will be as good as the book(it won't). But the reasons why people are excited about the movie is that it looks gorgeous, and Snyder is committed to keeping as much of the original source material in the movie as possible, which is why the movie is going to be around 3 hrs. I'm just tired of people's only reason For Zack Snyder not doing a good job is: "HE MADE 300, THEREFORE IT'S TOTALLY NOT POSSIBLE THAT HE CAN DO SOMETHING A BIT MORE INTELLIGENT!!!"

Anyways, on this prequel game, it could work and it could fail hard. It really depends on how strong the writing is.

oldmeme: Jul 24th 2008; 12:42PM

Well said Vegeta! Very very few movies will become better than their origin*, and I am happy to see some one here who has enough common sence and decency to show respect for what work Snyder is doing. I would much rather see him direct it than the directors of any of the other superhero movies we have seen in the past decade (except perhaps Sam Raimi).

*Mind you, the Spider-man Movie made "The Amazing Spider-man" books look like a joke in terms of writing. Peter constantly talks like an eight year old smart ass who gets into a hissy fit too often.

As for the Game, I smell a poor prequel story ("Jimmeny jilikers Nite Owl!")

ScallionN: Jul 24th 2008; 1:19PM

I want Rorschach shoes that say "Hurm".
And a mask that says "RONCH RONCH".

EliteBeatsAgent08: Jul 24th 2008; 11:19AM

Uhh the movie trailer is AMAZING!

So I don't understand all the hating...

I've never heard of Watchmen before but I can't help but be obsessed after that wickedly cool teaser I saw before The Dark Knight.

Now I'm reading up on the comic books and everything. I think it's going to be a great movie

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Jul 24th 2008; 12:02PM

The hate comes from comic book nerds who latch onto anything that isn't exactly like what's in their comic, and bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch.

I've read Watchment multiple times, and even I have to say that the trailer looks goddamn amazing. Of course it won't be as good as the books(I mean what movie adaptation is better than the source material) but I think it will be a good movie.

Chrysee: Jul 24th 2008; 2:10PM

Jurassic Park. Jurassic Park the Movie is totally more awesome than Jurassic Park the Novel.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Jul 24th 2008; 2:32PM

Ok fine I'll give you that.

Chrysee: Jul 24th 2008; 4:26PM

Yay!

apotheos: Jul 24th 2008; 11:27AM

I think if someone gave me the job of inventing new adventures for established Alan Moore characters I'd do the honorable thing and quit to become a nun.

Geoffrey Sperl: Jul 24th 2008; 12:52PM

Why? Moore has written new adventures for others' established characters (most notably Len Wein's Swamp Thing). A new take can be refreshing sometimes. You just have to wait and see how it turns out.

apotheos: Jul 24th 2008; 1:22PM

I think you are being a slight bit willful here. Moore outclass those who came before him on the shared IPs he worked

But we are talking about his original IP's, works created out of art rather than financial concern, and works that stand as totally unique and unquestionably brilliant. Trying to monetize this series as a franchise is like wearing a T-Shirt saying I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE THINK ALAN MOORES BOOKS ARE GOOD.

That would be some shirt.

Shmil: Jul 24th 2008; 11:53AM

If the trailer is any indication of how the movie will play out we can expect about 3 hours of some Snyder 300 slo mo shots. Can't say i'm too excited about that again.

As for these prequels, i guess cleaning up the docks would be pretty fun.

Roto13: Jul 24th 2008; 12:09PM

The 300 guys were ridiculous. I didn't see anything that would imply these supposedly normal people were anything but normal people who knew how to fight. Well, except Dr. Manhattan, but he's not normal....

Shmil: Jul 24th 2008; 12:47PM

... i'm not sure what point you're trying to make. I'm just saying that the watchmen movie is going to be riddled with slo motion shots just like 300 was.

Roto13: Jul 25th 2008; 12:14AM

The point is it's not an action movie, so don't expect it to be "riddled" with anything action related.

Joppe: Jul 24th 2008; 12:16PM

I wonder how mad Alan Moore is about this.

Dale: Jul 24th 2008; 12:27PM

Rorschach is perhaps the creepiest "superhero" going. As much as I'm sure Alan Moore is rolling his eyes at all of this, a game with a right wing nutcase as its lead could be fun.

Geoffrey Sperl: Jul 24th 2008; 12:48PM

For the record: Wein was the editor for Watchmen so, outside of Moore and Gibbons, Wein is the closest to the Watchmen material. To have Wein involved in any project is actually a major coup that comics fans will appreciate.

I have to admit that I'm interested in the movie, and the game, and projects are proven to have their comic cred intact... but I'm not sure we need the message Watchmen was used for in the mid-80s. I guess we'll see.

Carrie: Jul 24th 2008; 5:05PM

I just finished reading Watchmen yesterday, and I'm incredibly excited about the movie. I'll probably pick up the games if they're not too expensive, just so I can have more Rorschach.

Nevis: Aug 1st 2008; 12:38PM

So cool!

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