Editing Watchmen (section)

===Film adaptation===
{{Main|Watchmen (2009 film)}}
{{See also|Production of Watchmen (2009 film)}}
There have been numerous attempts to make a film version of ''Watchmen'' since 1986, when producers [[Lawrence Gordon (producer)|Lawrence Gordon]] and [[Joel Silver]] acquired film rights to the series for [[20th Century Fox]].<ref>Thompson, Anne. "Filmmakers intent on producing new comic-book movies". ''Sun-Sentinel''. August 26, 1986.</ref> Fox asked Alan Moore to write a screenplay based on his story,<ref name="hughes" /> but he declined, so the studio enlisted screenwriter [[Sam Hamm]]. Hamm took the liberty of re-writing ''Watchmen''{{'}}s complicated ending into a "more manageable" conclusion involving an assassination and a time paradox.<ref name="hughes">Hughes, David. "Who Watches the ''Watchmen''? – How The Greatest Graphic Novel of Them All Confounded Hollywood". ''The Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Never Made''. Chicago Review Press, 2002. {{ISBN|978-1-55652-449-3}}, p. 144</ref> Fox put the project into [[turnaround (filmmaking)|turnaround]] in 1991,<ref name="turnaround">{{cite news |url=http://cinechew.com/battle-watchmen-surrounds-producer/ |title=Battle Over 'Watchmen' Surrounds a Producer |author=Cieply, Michael |date=September 20, 2008 |work=The New York Times |access-date=February 10, 2015|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211000522/http://cinechew.com/battle-watchmen-surrounds-producer/ |archive-date=February 11, 2015}}</ref> and the project was moved to [[Warner Bros. Pictures]], where [[Terry Gilliam]] was attached to direct and [[Charles McKeown]] to rewrite it. They used the character Rorschach's diary as a [[voice-over]] and restored scenes from the comic book that Hamm had removed.<ref name="hughes" /> Gilliam and Silver were only able to raise $25 million for the film (a quarter of the necessary budget) because their previous films had gone over budget.<ref name="hughes" /> Gilliam abandoned the project because he decided that ''Watchmen'' would have been [[unfilmable]]. "Reducing [the story] to a two or two-and-a-half hour film [...] seemed to me to take away the essence of what ''Watchmen'' is about," he said.<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead|url=https://www.empireonline.com/News/story.asp?nid=13532 |title=Python Won't Bite For ''Watchmen'' |website=Empire |date=November 13, 2000 |access-date=October 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814100157/http://www.empireonline.com/News/story.asp?nid=13532 |archive-date=August 14, 2011}}</ref> After Warner Bros. dropped the project, Gordon invited Gilliam back to helm the film independently. The director again declined, believing that the comic book would be better directed as a five-hour [[miniseries]].<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |last1=Plume |first1=Kenneth |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/035/035925p1.html |title=Interview with Terry Gilliam (Part 3 of 4) |website=IGN |date=November 17, 2000 |access-date=October 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100221142733/http://movies.ign.com/articles/035/035925p1.html |archive-date=February 21, 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Archie (Nite Owl ship) 2.jpg|thumb|left|Interior set of Nite Owl's vehicle "Archie" from the film version of ''Watchmen'', displayed at Comic-Con 2008]]
In October 2001, Gordon partnered with [[Lloyd Levin]] and [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]], hiring [[David Hayter]] to write and direct.<ref name=watches>{{cite web |url-status=dead |author=Stax |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/315/315547p1.html |title=David Hayter Watches ''The Watchmen'' |website=IGN |date=October 27, 2001 |access-date=October 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201095453/http://movies.ign.com/articles/315/315547p1.html |archive-date=February 1, 2009}}</ref> Hayter and the producers left Universal due to creative differences,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kit |first1=Borys |url=http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/miscellaneous-retail-miscellaneous/4403207-1.html |title='Watchmen' on Duty at Warner Bros |agency=Book Standard |date=December 19, 2005 |access-date=December 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313105535/http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/miscellaneous-retail-miscellaneous/4403207-1.html |archive-date=March 13, 2008 |website=AllBusiness}}</ref> and Gordon and Levin expressed interest in setting up ''Watchmen'' at [[Revolution Studios]]. The project did not hold together at Revolution Studios and subsequently fell apart.<ref name="revpar">{{cite web |url-status=dead |last1=Linder |first1=Brian |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/532/532914p1.html |title=Aronofksy Still Watching ''Watchmen'' |website=IGN |date=July 23, 2004 |access-date=October 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215165307/http://movies.ign.com/articles/532/532914p1.html |archive-date=February 15, 2009}}</ref> In July 2004, it was announced [[Paramount Pictures]] would produce ''Watchmen'', and they attached [[Darren Aronofsky]] to direct Hayter's script. Producers Gordon and Levin remained attached, collaborating with Aronofsky's producing partner, Eric Watson.<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |last1=Kit |first1=Borys |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000584187 |title='Watchmen' unmasked for Par, Aronofsky |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=July 23, 2004 |access-date=October 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041010075611/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000584187 |archive-date=October 10, 2004}}</ref> Aronofsky left to focus on ''[[The Fountain]]'' and was replaced by [[Paul Greengrass]].<ref name=nyt-watchmenskulk>{{cite news |title=Watchmen Skulk to the Screen |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/01/movies/01itzk.html?pagewanted=all |first=Dave |last=Itzkoff |date=January 30, 2009 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=March 21, 2013 | archive-date = May 15, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130515111531/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/01/movies/01itzk.html?pagewanted=all | url-status = live}}</ref> Ultimately, Paramount placed ''Watchmen'' in turnaround.<ref>"[https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?nid=16857 Someone To Watch Over 'Watchmen]". ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'', June 7, 2005. Retrieved on October 18, 2008. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121116191512/http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?nid=16857 Archived] on November 16, 2012.</ref>

In October 2005, Gordon and Levin met with Warner Bros. to develop the film there again.<ref>Stax. "[http://comics.ign.com/articles/661/661027p1.html ''Watchmen'' Resurrected?]". IGN.com. October 25, 2005. Retrieved on October 18, 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216124549/http://comics.ign.com/articles/661/661027p1.html |date=December 16, 2008 }}</ref> Impressed with [[Zack Snyder]]'s work on ''[[300 (film)|300]]'', Warner Bros. approached him to direct an adaptation of ''Watchmen''.<ref name="kickin ass">{{cite web |last=Sanchez |first=Robert |url=http://iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1883&Itemid=99 |title=Exclusive Interview: Zack Snyder Is Kickin' Ass With ''300'' and ''Watchmen'' |publisher=IESB.net |date=February 13, 2007 |access-date=October 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217033245/http://iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1883&Itemid=99 |archive-date=February 17, 2007}}</ref> Screenwriter [[Alex Tse]] drew from his favorite elements of Hayter's script,<ref>Ellwood, Gregory. "[https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/world-awaits-watchmen-1200339571/ World awaits ''Watchmen'']". ''Variety''. July 18, 2006. Retrieved on October 18, 2008. [https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/world-awaits-watchmen-1200339571/]</ref> but also returned it to the original [[Cold War]] setting of the ''Watchmen'' comic. Similar to his approach to ''300'', Snyder used the comic book panel-grid as a [[storyboard]] and opted to shoot the entire film using live-action sets instead of [[green screens]].<ref name="post game">Weiland, Jonah. "[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=9647 ''300'' Post-Game: One-On-One With Zack Snyder] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218151250/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=9647 |date=December 18, 2008}}". ComicBookResources.com. March 14, 2007. Retrieved on March 16, 2007.</ref> He extended the fight scenes,<ref>Davis, Erik. "[http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/07/cinematical-watches-the-watchmen/ Cinematical Watches The 'Watchmen']". Cinematical.com October 7, 2008. Retrieved on October 7, 2008 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225165952/http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/07/cinematical-watches-the-watchmen |date=February 25, 2009}}</ref> and added a [[subplot]] about energy resources to make the film more topical.<ref>Jensen, Jeff. "[https://ew.com/article/2008/07/21/watchmen-exclusive-first-look/ {{-'}}Watchmen': An Exclusive First Look]". ''Entertainment Weekly''. July 17, 2008, Retrieved on July 17, 2008. [https://ew.com/article/2008/07/21/watchmen-exclusive-first-look/]</ref> Although he intended to stay faithful to the look of the characters in the comic, Snyder intended Nite Owl to look scarier,<ref name="post game" /> and made Ozymandias' armor into a parody of the rubber muscle suits from the 1997 superhero film ''[[Batman & Robin (film)|Batman & Robin]]''.<ref name="Comics Bulletin" /> After the trailer to the film premiered in July 2008, DC Comics president [[Paul Levitz]] said that the company had to print more than 900,000 copies of ''Watchmen'' trade collection to meet the additional demand for the book that the advertising campaign had generated, with the total annual print run expected to be over one million copies.<ref>Gustines, George Gene. "[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/arts/14arts-FILMTRAILERA_BRF.html?_r=1&ref=arts&oref=slogin Film Trailer Aids Sales of 'Watchmen' Novel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701103901/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/arts/14arts-FILMTRAILERA_BRF.html?_r=1&ref=arts&oref=slogin |date=July 1, 2017}}". ''The New York Times''. August 13, 2008. Retrieved on September 24, 2008.</ref> While 20th Century Fox filed a lawsuit to block the film's release, the studios eventually settled, with Warner agreeing to give Fox 8.5 percent of the film's worldwide gross, including from sequels and spin-offs in return.<ref name=nyt-watchmenskulk /> The film was released to theaters in March 2009 to mixed reviews and grossed $185 million worldwide.

''Tales of the Black Freighter'' was adapted as a [[direct-to-video]] animated feature from [[Warner Premiere]] and [[Warner Bros. Animation]], which was released on March 24, 2009.<ref name=dvd>{{cite news |author=Brooks Barnes |title=Warner Tries a New Tactic to Revive Its DVD Sales |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 26, 2008 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/26/business/media/26retail.html?_r=1&ref=business&oref=slogin |access-date=May 26, 2008 |archive-date=April 23, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423212700/http://www.nytimes.com/glogin?URI=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2008%2F05%2F26%2Fbusiness%2Fmedia%2F26retail.html&OQ=_rQ3D2Q26refQ3DbusinessQ26orefQ3Dslogin&OP=17dede1bQ2F0AUZ0%28YQ60uVYY9Q5D0Q5DFFP0Ft0Q5Ds0ZkuSIUuu0Q23U%28So0Q5DsVU9oSfyQ7D9Q23f |url-status=live }}</ref> It was originally included in the screenplay for the [[Watchmen (2009 film)|''Watchmen'' film]],<ref name="update">{{cite news |author=Jonah Weiland |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=8847 |title=Snyder Gives A ''Watchmen'' Update |work=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=November 9, 2006 |access-date=November 9, 2006 |archive-date=April 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415122144/http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=8847 |url-status=dead }}</ref> but was cut due to budget restrictions,<ref name=pirates>{{cite news |author=Eric Vespe |title=Zack Snyder and Quint have a brief conversation about ''Watchmen''! Pirate storyline! Rorschach! More!!!! |work=[[Ain't It Cool News]] |date=July 29, 2007 |url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33491 |access-date=July 29, 2007 |archive-date=January 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102233759/http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33491 |url-status=live }}</ref> as the segment would have added $20 million to the budget, because Snyder wanted to film it in a stylized manner reminiscent of ''[[300 (film)|300]]''.<ref name=dvd /> [[Gerard Butler]], who starred in ''300'', voices the Captain in the film, having been promised a role in ''Watchmen'' that never materialized.<ref>Hewitt, Chris. "[https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=22088 Gerard Butler Talks Black Freighter]". EmpireOnline.com. February 28, 2008. Retrieved on February 28, 2008. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814100208/http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=22088 |date=August 14, 2011}}</ref>
[[Jared Harris]] voices his deceased friend Ridley, whom the Captain hallucinates is talking to him. Snyder had Butler and Harris record their parts together.<ref>{{cite news |author=Ian Spelling |title=Jared Harris finds his inner ghostly sailor in Black Freighter |work=[[Sci Fi Wire]] |date=March 4, 2009 |url=http://scifiwire.com/2009/03/jared-harris-finds-his-inner-ghostly-sailor-in-black-freighter.php |access-date=March 4, 2009 |archive-date=March 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305143349/http://scifiwire.com/2009/03/jared-harris-finds-his-inner-ghostly-sailor-in-black-freighter.php |url-status=dead}}</ref> Snyder considered including the animated film in the final cut,<ref name=fanqaa>{{cite news |title=Zack Snyder Fan Q&A — Part II |work=WatchmenComicMovie.com |date=February 14, 2008 |url=http://www.watchmencomicmovie.com/021408-zack-snyder-watchmen-interview.php |access-date=February 15, 2008 |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718003517/http://www.watchmencomicmovie.com/021408-zack-snyder-watchmen-interview.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> but the film was already approaching a three-hour running time.<ref name=dvd /> The ''Tales of the Black Freighter'' was given standalone DVD release which also includes ''Under the Hood'', a documentary detailing the characters' backstories, named after the character [[Hollis Mason]]'s (the first [[Nite Owl]]) memoirs.<ref name=dvd /><ref name=murder>{{cite news |author=Bill Desowitz |title=Snyder Discusses Extended Versions of Watchmen |work=VFXWorld |date=February 18, 2009 |url=http://www.vfxworld.com/?sa=adv&code=3631a5a1&atype=news&id=26500 |access-date=February 19, 2009 |archive-date=July 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710021132/http://www.vfxworld.com/?sa=adv&code=3631a5a1&atype=news&id=26500 |url-status=live }}</ref> The film itself was released on DVD four months after ''Tales of the Black Freighter'',<ref name=dvd /> and in November 2009, a four-disc set was released as the "Ultimate Cut" with the animated film edited back into the main picture.<ref>Woodward, Tom. "[http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/watchmen-ultimate-cut.html Watchmen: Ultimate Cut (US – BD)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510182156/http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/watchmen-ultimate-cut.html |date=May 10, 2013}} " DVDActive.com. Retrieved on February 10, 2013.</ref> The director's cut and the extended version of ''Watchmen'' both include ''Tales of the Black Freighter'' on their DVD releases.<ref name=dvd />

Len Wein, the comic's editor, wrote a video game prequel entitled ''[[Watchmen: The End Is Nigh]]''.<ref>Totilo, Stephen. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20080828183735/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1591385/20080723/id_0.jhtml {{-'}}Watchmen' Video Game Preview: Rorschach And Nite Owl Star In Subversive Prequel Set In 1970s]. MTV.com. July 23, 2008. Retrieved on December 24, 2008.</ref>

Dave Gibbons became an adviser on Snyder's film, but Moore has refused to have his name attached to any film adaptations of his work.<ref name="Alan Moore – Films">MacDonald, Heidi. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20080616085226/http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA604654.html?pubdate=5%2F30%2F2005&display=archive Moore Leaves DC for Top Shelf]". PublishersWeekly.com. May 30, 2005. Retrieved on April 15, 2006.</ref> Moore has stated he has no interest in seeing Snyder's adaptation; he told ''Entertainment Weekly'' in 2008 that "[t]here are things that we did with ''Watchmen'' that could only work in a comic, and were indeed designed to show off things that other media can't".<ref>Gopalan, Nisha. "[https://ew.com/article/2008/07/21/qa-watchmen-creator-alan-moore/ Alan Moore Still Knows the Score!]" ''Entertainment Weekly''. July 16, 2008. Retrieved on September 22, 2008. [https://ew.com/article/2008/07/21/qa-watchmen-creator-alan-moore/]</ref> While Moore believes that David Hayter's screenplay was "as close as I could imagine anyone getting to ''Watchmen''", he asserted he did not intend to see the film if it were made.<ref name="EW article 5">Jensen, Jeff. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20070314200504/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1120854_5,00.html Watchmen: An Oral History (5 of 6)]". ''Entertainment Weekly''. October 21, 2005. Retrieved on October 8, 2008.</ref>