Warners continues development of an R-rated, feature-length animated version of writer Alan Moore and illustrator Dave Gibbons "Watchmen" graphic novel, with Damon Lindelof ("The Leftovers") also in talks for a "Watchmen" TV series on HBO:
"...'Watchmen' (1985) was inspired by characters from the Charlton Comics library, then owned by DC...
"...set in a universe in which costumed superheroes and crime-fighting vigilantes in the mid-20th Century had altered the course of history.
"'Watchmen' followed a group of crime-fighters investigating the murder of one of their own.
"In this setting 'Doctor Manhattan', 'Nite Owl', 'Silk Spectre' and 'Rorschach' — uncover a conspiracy with enormous implications.
"From the flashbacks to the nonlinear storytelling to the deeply flawed heroes...
"...these are all elements that I try to put into everything..." said Lindelof about the "Watchmen" graphic novel...
Although he regards Snyder's film "...the most married-to-the-original-text version of 'Watchmen' that could've been made," Lindelof said his version will "...keep it sort of insular.
Published by DC Comics in 1986 and 1987, then collected in 1987, "Watchmen" was created by writer Alan Moore, illustrator Dave Gibbons and colorist John Higgins...
...originating from a story proposal Moore submitted to DC featuring superhero characters that the company had acquired from Charlton Comics...
...but managing editor Dick Giordano convinced Moore to create original characters instead.
"Watchmen" depicts an alternate history where costumed vigilantes emerged in the 1940's and 1960's...
...with their presence changing history, so that the US won the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal was never exposed.
Then in 1985, with the country edging towards a World War, most vigilantes have been outlawed, while former 'superheroes' are in retirement or working for the government.
Moore's story focuses on the personal development and moral struggles of the protagonists...
...just as an investigation into the murder of a government-sponsored superhero pulls them out of retirement.
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Watchmen"...
