New Watchmen Movie Revealed, See The Two-Part Adaptation Of The Comic Book Classic
Warner Bros. has released the first teaser trailer for its coming two-part animated film Watchmen Chapter 1 & 2. The 54-second clip gives fans a feel of the project’s tone and look, which embraces its DC comic book origins. “Someone is picking off costumed heroes,” Rorschach says while standing over the grave of Edward Morgan Blake (also known as The Comedian).
Created by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, and John Higgins, the first Watchmen comic books were published by DC Comics in 1986 and 1987.
While the Watchmen Chapter 1 & 2 characters wonder if the killings are politically motivated, the trailer features a montage of aerial and action shots featuring Rorschach, Doctor Manhattan, Nite Owl, Silk Spectre, and The Comedian. While the project has been in development since 2017, Warner Bros. made it official at San Diego Comic Con in 2023.
Long before Watchmen Chapter 1 & 2 was announced, a movie adaptation directed by Zack Snyder was released in 2009.
Created by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, and John Higgins, the first Watchmen comic books were published by DC Comics in 1986 and 1987. It was first released as a 12-issue limited series and later collected into a single-volume graphic novel. The story is set in an alternate history where superheroes existed in the 1940s and 1960s.
In 1985, with the world on the brink of nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union, a government-sponsored superhero called The Comedian is murdered. While investigating this tragic incident, a much larger conspiracy is uncovered. If the trailer for Watchmen Chapter 1 & 2 is anything to go by, the upcoming animated movie sticks close to the source material.
At its core, Watchmen is a complex story which questions the moral integrity and motivations of superheroes. The series also examines how power can corrupt and the ethical dilemmas of those who wield it. Instead of being inherently good or bad, each character is deeply flawed which fans of the comic books often view as more realistic than cookie cutter, family friendly heroes.
Before Watchmen, a series of prequel comics was published by DC Comics between 2012 and 2013, explored the backstories of the main characters.
Long before Watchmen Chapter 1 & 2 was announced, a movie adaptation directed by Zack Snyder was released in 2009. A decade later (2019), HBO released a critically acclaimed Watchmen television series set 34 years after the events of the comic. Created by Damon Lindelof, the story explores the impact of the original Watchmen events on contemporary society.
The Watchmen franchise has also been expanded in print form. Before Watchmen, a series of prequel comics was published by DC Comics between 2012 and 2013, explored the backstories of the main characters. A crossover event called Doomsday Clock was published from 2017 to 2019, featuring the characters of Watchmen and the DC Universe.
As excitement builds for the release of Watchmen Chapter 1 & 2, the comic books continue to reshape the perception of what the medium can achieve in terms of storytelling. Critics have described the comics as a sophisticated and revolutionary work that elevated the graphic novel medium.
In 1988, Watchmen won the Hugo Award for Best Other Form. It has also appeared on several best-of lists, including Time magazine’s list of the 100 best English-language novels published since 1923. Hopefully, Watchmen Chapter 1 & 2 will continue the success of the franchise.
