The official blog for the Watchmen film, due for release in the US 6 March 2009, has just published several character sketches from the new movie based on the designs created by British artist Dave Gibbons for Alan Moore’s seminal graphic novel.

Featured are The Comedian (left, played on screen by Jeffrey Dean Morgan) the character whose death starts events in both book and film); Nite Owl (Patrick Wilson); billionaire superhero Ozymandias (Matthew Goode); Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley); and Silk Spectre (Malin Akerman).

Filming is now complete and director Zack Snyder says he is delighted with what’s in the can now production has wrapped.

“A film adaptation of Watchmen has been in the works for almost 20 years,” he says on his blog, thanking the cast and crew on the project, “and thanks to you, it is finally in the can. It has been such a pleasure to be surrounded by a team that is so dedicated and that has given 110% each and every day. I am extremely grateful for the level of attention to detail put forth by each department to capture all of the texture that makes Watchmen the incredibly unique property that it is.

“Although we still have a lot of work to do in post, the shoot has been an experience I will not soon forget!”

• Official Watchmen Film Blog
• Official Watchmen Film web site (US)

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

Categories: Film

Tags: Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, Watchmen