Carrey and Gyllenhaal Team for DAMN YANKEES

From ComingSoon.net:

"New Line Cinema has attached both Jim Carrey and Jake Gyllenhaal to star in a contemporized feature adaptation of the classic musical Damn Yankees. Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel are set to write the script.

"Damn Yankees," which premiered on Broadway in 1955 and won seven Tony Awards, focuses on Joe Boyd, a happily married middle-aged man whose devotion to a hapless pro baseball team prompts him to make a Faustian bargain with the devil to help the team. He's transformed into slugger Joe Hardy, in exchange for Boyd's soul. Boyd can break the deal, but the deadline occurs during the World Series. For good measure, the devil engages Lola, a gorgeous lost soul, to seduce the slugger and seal his fate.

The plan is for Carrey to play the devil, and Gyllenhaal to play Boyd. It's the first musical for each."

Jim Carrey as the Devil?! Jake Gyllenhaal as a baseball slugger?! IN A MUSICAL?! THIS IS SO CRAZY IT JUST MIGHT WORK!!

Won't it, Hugh Jackman?

Seth Green Goes To MARS

Okay, not really but in a movie he does!

"Seth Green will star in Walt Disney Pictures' Mars Needs Moms!, Disney and Robert Zemeckis' ImageMovers' adaptation of the Berkeley Breathed children's novel.

Simon Wells is directing the performance-capture movie, which follows a boy named Milo (Green) who stows away aboard a spaceship to rescue his mom after she was kidnapped by aliens.

The project reunites Green with his 'Austin Powers' mom, Mindy Sterling, who will play the alien leader of Mars, inspiring terror in all who meet her. Dan Fogler (Fanboys) is playing Gribble, a friend of Milo, and Joan Cusack (Confessions of a Shopaholic) plays the mom.

Zemeckis, Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey are producing; Steven J. Boyd will executive produce. Simon and Wendy Wells adapted the screenplay."

Seth Green is funny but a kids' movie? This is a stretch. I still want to see his Star Wars: The Clone Wars episode!

Gore Verbinski Gets a CLUE

From ComingSoon.net:

"Universal Pictures has attached Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean franchise) to develop Clue, a live-action murder mystery based on the Hasbro board game that he would direct.

Verbinski will produce through his Universal-based Blind Wink company, along with Hasbro's Brian Goldner and Bennett Schneir, who also have an overall deal at the studio.

Verbinski will next direct Bioshock for Universal.

"Clue" is one of the few board games to surpass $1 billion in sales, in more than 50 markets. It was developed in England by a retired legal clerk named Anthony Pratt during WWII and released in 1948.

A previous film version was released in 1985.

Clue will be turned into a mystery that Blind Wink's Jonathan Krauss called "A global thriller and transmedia event that uses deductive reasoning as its storytelling engine."

Now, I trust Gore Verbinski for two reasons - 1. HE DID PIRATES; the top movie franchise at Disney. Does anybody remember a lot of press surrounding Black Pearl before it came out? No? Because there was none, because Disney was embarrassed of its first PG-13 film. It ended up giving them $2.7 BILLION at the box office (all three counting). 2. He's from Tennessee, like me! BUT I LIKED THE ORIGINAL CLUE. To me, Clue will always be a slapstick comedy.

New Warner Bros. Release Dates

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II - July 15, 2011
Jonah Hex - August 6, 2010
Green Lantern - December 17, 2010
Inception - July 16, 2010
Sucker Punch - October 8, 2011
Clash of the Titans - March 26, 2010
Sherlock Holmes - December 25, 2010

I didn't think Green Lantern was in the fast lane toward release but wow! Sherlock Holmes got moved but I'm still looking forward to it.

Eric Brevig is Smarter than the Average Director

From ComingSoon.net:

"Eric Brevig has come on to direct Warner Bros.' feature take on the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon Yogi Bear, which will be produced as a 3-D project.

Brevig, a longtime visual effects supervisor whose credits include The Day After Tomorrow and Men in Black, directed Warners and Walden's Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Joshua Sternin and Jeffrey Ventimilia, who executive produced 'That '70s Show,' are writing the screenplay for Yogi Bear, which will offer a new take on the half-century-old title character and his sidekick Boo Boo, who get into a series of misadventures in Jellystone Park. The movie is expected to combine live action and CG in the manner of Alvin and the Chipmunks."

This can work. I loved Journey 3D. Steve Martin should play Yogi's voice.

Michel Gondry gets stung by THE GREEN HORNET

From ComingSoon.net:

"Michel Gondry is in negotiations to direct Columbia Pictures' The Green Hornet, starring Seth Rogen and Stephen Chow, it was announced today by Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach, presidents of Columbia Pictures. The screenplay is by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg, who will also executive produce. Neal H. Moritz will produce the film through his Original Film production company. The film will begin shooting this summer and is set for release June 25, 2010. The film will be executive produced by Michael Grillo.

Commenting on the announcement, Tolmach said, "From the very beginning, Seth, Evan, and Neal wanted this film to stand out from the pack with its originality. You couldn't ask for a better director than Michel Gondry to bring that to life."

Moritz added, "We're huge fans of Michel Gondry. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and all his films are as daring as they are extraordinary, fueled by creative ideas that spring from his unique worldview. Our first rule, always, is to make the movie that we want to see, and that couldn't be truer than with Michel bringing his stylish and original touch to the helm."

Said Gondry, "I'm very excited about The Green Hornet and all that I hope to bring to it. This story has always been close to me and now Seth & Evan have written a script that is both funny and real - the best of both worlds. I cannot wait to further collaborate with them on it."

Gondry, an award-winning film, commercial, and music video director, is set to release his most recent film, Tokyo!, a triptych film telling three stories about the iconic city, on March 6, 2009. Gondry recently released his film Be Kind Rewind, which inspired Gondry's debut book, "You'll Like This Film Because You're In It: The Be Kind Rewind Protocol." Gondry's recent films include The Science of Sleep, Dave Chappelle's Block Party, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, for which Gondry received a 2005 Academy Award for original screenplay, for his contribution to the storyline alongside Charlie Kaufman. Gondry co-produced both Be Kind Rewind and The Science of Sleep through his production company Partizan Films.

First - yes, the way you say his name is pronounced "Michelle". Second - I like my clever titles. Third - I loved Be Kind Rewind. Fourth - I hope he doesn't make The Green Hornet too weird.

Ledger Gets Last Laugh

Sorry it took me so long to post. And no, it wasn't because of the title, but I think it's kinda clever.

BEST PICTURE:
Slumdog Millionaire (Fox Searchlight), A Celador Films Production, Christian Colson, Producer

DIRECTING:
Slumdog Millionaire (Fox Searchlight), Danny Boyle

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:
Sean Penn - Milk (Focus Features)

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:
Kate Winslet - The Reader (The Weinstein Company)

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight (Warner Bros.)

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Penélope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona (The Weinstein Company)

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
Slumdog Millionaire (Fox Searchlight), Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
Milk (Focus Features), Written by Dustin Lance Black

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
Departures (Regent Releasing), A Departures Film Partners Production, Japan

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
WALL•E (Walt Disney), Andrew Stanton

ART DIRECTION:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt, Set Decoration: Victor J. Zolfo

CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Slumdog Millionaire (Fox Searchlight), Anthony Dod Mantle

COSTUME DESIGN:
The Duchess (Paramount Vantage, Pathé and BBC Films), Michael O’Connor

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:
Man on Wire (Magnolia Pictures), A Wall to Wall Production, James Marsh and Simon Chinn

FILM EDITING:
Slumdog Millionaire (Fox Searchlight), Chris Dickens

MAKEUP:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Greg Cannom

ORIGINAL SCORE:
Slumdog Millionaire (Fox Searchlight), A.R. Rahman

ORIGINAL SONG:
"Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire (Fox Searchlight), Music by A.R. Rahman, Lyric by Gulzar

SOUND MIXING:
Slumdog Millionaire (Fox Searchlight), Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke and Resul Pookutty

SOUND EDITING:
The Dark Knight (Warner Bros.), Richard King

VISUAL EFFECTS:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron

DOCUMENTARY SHORT:
Smile Pinki A Principe Production, Megan Mylan

ANIMATED SHORT FILM:
La Maison en Petits Cubes A Robot Communications Production, Kunio Kato

HEATH LEDGER WON! AWESOME!!

Ledger's Daughter To Be Awarded Oscar Statuette

From IMDB.com:

"Late actor Heath Ledger's three-year-old daughter Matilda will become the proud owner of her dad's Oscar statuette on Sunday, if he wins a posthumous award.

Ledger is nominated for his supporting role as the Joker in Batman movie The Dark Knight - and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has decided little Matilda will be handed the accolade should the actor triumph at the weekend.

Should he win, the Academy will hold the statuette until Matilda's 18th birthday - when she will then be able to sign the contract required of all winners. The document bars award recipients from reselling the statuette without first offering it back to the Academy for $1 (GBP0.70).

Matilda's mother and Ledger's ex-fiancee, actress Michelle Williams, would serve as the legal custodian of the Oscar for the next 15 years.

Executive director of the Academy, Bruce Davis, says, 'It's complicated, because there are two different questions that have to be answered. First, we have to decide who gets the job of accepting the award onstage on the night of the ceremony. And then there's the question of the eventual disposition of the posthumous statuette, which may not stay with the person who accepts it. At that point, she may execute what we call an heir's agreement and keep the statuette forever - or, if she chooses not to do that, it will return to us.'

Ledger died on January 22, 2008 from an accidental prescription drug overdose at his New York home, aged 28. He was honored with the Best Supporting Actor trophy at the Golden Globes on January 11 and won the same prize at the BAFTA awards earlier this month. The Academy has not revealed who will accept the award on Ledger's behalf on Sunday night."

This sounds right. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose a father at such a young age. But he left the world with the greatest comic book villain role of all time.

THE DARK KNIGHT breaks the $1 Billion Mark

From ComingSoon.net:

"The Dark Knight has become the fourth film to take in more than $1 billion in worldwide box office.

Warner Bros. Pictures made the announcement Friday afternoon, saying that the combined domestic and international gross had totaled $1,001,082,160 to date -- about $533 million domestically and $567 million overseas.

The Dark Knight had been about $4 million short of the 10-figure mark when Warner Bros. re-released it into IMAX screens on Jan. 23, the day after its eight Oscar nominations were announced.

Grosses from Ecuador also helped nudge the film over the mark, a spokeswoman said. Only Titanic ($1.842 billion), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ($1.119 billion) and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest ($1.066 billion) have topped the billion-dollar worldwide mark previously. Knight also is the second-highest domestic grosser of all time, trailing only Titanic."

The only thing I have to say? ABOUT TIME!! Let's tip over Titanic shall we?

A JUMPER Engagement

From IMDB.com:

"Actor Hayden Christensen reportedly made Rachel Bilson's Christmas holidays extra special by asking the actress to marry him.
The couple, who met on the set of movie Jumper in 2006, became engaged in December, while staying at Christensen's family home in Vancouver, Canada, according to reports.
A source tells America's Star magazine, 'He gave her a diamond ring, and she accepted without hesitation. Everyone's so excited. Hayden's family adores Rachel - his sisters even helped him pick out the ring.'
The insider alleges their nuptials are likely to take place in Canada because Los Angeles-born Bilson 'loves it there', adding, 'She's a down-to-earth girl - and she's brought out the best in Hayden.'
A wedding date has yet to be set.
Bilson's representative has refused to confirm or deny the reports, stating, "I don't comment on my clients' personal lives."

Well, I guess in the vein of Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Brangalina) and Daredevil (Bennifer) I will debut the paparazzi name of this wonderful couple - "Haychel". I wish them well.

Superman gets UNLEASHED

From ComingSoon.net:

"/Film snuck into Legendary Pictures' password protected company site, which lists Superman Unleashed as one of the company's upcoming films in development. Legendary Pictures was one of the companies responsible for bringing director Bryan Singer and Warner Bros. Pictures' Superman Returns to theaters in 2006.

The site says the listing includes the following synopsis:
'Ramping up the action of its esteemed predecessor, the sequel to Superman Returns promises to raise the stakes and take the audience to heights of action that no other superhero movie can achieve.'"

Yeah, it'd better. So I'm guessing it's going to be a tug-of-war between the Wachowskis and Bryan Singer.

From Wrestler to NOT Iron?

From ComingSoon.net:

"Mickey Rourke has told New York Magazine that it's looking like he won't be playing the villain in Iron Man II:

'But so what if ICM's David Unger doesn't look good in a dress — at least he's battling Marvel for a bigger paycheck for Rourke for his rumored role as a villain in Iron Man II, right? 'Right now, we're not doing Iron Man II,' Rourke told us grimly.'

In January, the news broke that Marvel had offered the award-winning Wrestler star just $250,000 to play a villain in the sequel. Perhaps further negotiations didn't go so well? Also, Rourke is now firmly attached to star in Sylvester Stallone's The Expendables, which starts shortly and might interfere with the Iron Man II shoot."

Okay, does anybody want to be in this movie besides Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle?! I mean, really?!

Schwarzenegger Back in Action

From ComingSoon.net:

"Ain't It Cool News is reporting that Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to be playing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in Sylvester Stallone's The Expendables. He will be filming for one day.

Ben Kingsley is also reportedly out as the dirty CIA jerk, Eric Roberts is in, and Mickey Rourke has finally signed on officially. Latino Review says Danny Trejo has a role in the film as well.

The action-adventure also stars Stallone, Forest Whitaker, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Randy Couture and Dolph Lungdren."

This is a pretty big cast. And bigger news that the Governator is back on the big screen. We miss you, Arnold.

UPDATE: The plot is - "A team of mercenaries head to South America on a mission to overthrow a dictator."

UPDATE 2: Apprently, the California public dislike this idea and Schwarzenegger has backed out of the film.

NOTTINGHAM No More?

From ComingSoon.Net:

"MTV talked to Ridley Scott, who revealed that some big changes have been made to the previously-titled Nottingham, the director's next project. Here are a few excerpts:

That statement is notable, not only in that those first two projects are moving forward, but that 'Nottingham' has now officially been renamed to reflect its lead character. 'Oh yes, I think we are just going to call it 'Robin Hood',' Scott revealed. 'We start in almost 2 months.'

In an attempt to clarify all the confusion from a few months ago about Russell Crowe playing multiple roles, Scott was eager to say that he had changed his mind, and that Crowe will simply portray the famed archer who rises from an unlikely background. 'Robin Hood is in the army of Richard Coeur de Lion,' he said of how we'll find the character early in the film. 'He is a bowman in the army of Richard Coeur de Lion.'

'[Crowe as both Robin and the Sheriff of Nottingham] was an idea so far back, way back when at the time I had this proposed to me, and I read it and thought, 'I don't really know what it does for it, but it's alright',' Scott recalled of the now-abandoned idea. 'It is better to simply have the evolution of a character called Robin Hood, who will come out of a point in the Crusades which is the end.'"

I dunno, I though the idea of Crowe as both Robin Hood and the Sheriff was appealing to me. Sounded cool. But people will go see Robin Wood because of the Disney movie (who can forget such memorable songs as "Oo De Lally"?). Oh, well.

The Superman Matrix?

From IMDB.com:

"The Matrix filmmakers Andy and Larry Wachowski have been offered the chance to take over the Superman franchise and make a trilogy of movies about the Man of Steel, according to reports.

The superhero franchise has been on hold since 2006's Superman Returns, which was directed by Bryan Singer.

According to movie website Ain't it Cool News, Singer has turned down the chance to make another Superman movie, paving the way for studios bosses at Warner Bros. to offer the job to the Wachowskis.

The site was tipped off by a recent interview James McTeigue - who directed the brothers' film adaptation of comic V for Vendetta - gave to a German TV station.

McTeigue revealed the Wachowskis' plans to make a movie about comic character Plastic Man have been postponed, and that they are considering a three-part follow-up to Superman Returns.

A source tells Ain't it Cool News, "(The Wachowskis) are currently reviewing their options as it's like being asked to take the final play in a Super Bowl final.

'Making a Superman movie is unbelievable as they have grown up in the world of comic books and they would be ideal for the project.'"

Now, I didn't mind Speed Racer. I think it is a great film for people who haven't seen the anime the film is based on but unfortunately I saw the first season of the original before I saw the film and I don't think it completely measures up (Spritle's too old..."Freebird" in a Wachowski/Speed Racer movie... Speed cursing on the track at all). So you can see why I'm not sure Warner Bros. is wise to let the Wachowskis after an American icon. But then again, has anybody seen Superman Returns? Aside from Marlon Brando, this film didn't look anything like the Donner film.

Efron To Take On Jonny Quest Role?

From IMDB.com:

"Wrestler-turned-movie star The Rock has been hired to protect Hollywood heartthrob Zac Efron - the pair will reportedly team up in the big screen adaptation of 1960s animated classic The Adventures Of Jonny Quest.

The Rock - real name Dwayne Johnson - has confirmed he is set to play Race Bannon, the cartoon series' tough guy special agent who is hired to guard and train Johnny Quest, an 11-year-old who accompanies his doctor father on amazing adventures. And Johnson couldn't resist the action man role - insisting the script is one of the best he has ever be offered.

He tells Moviehole, 'I don't know if you've read the latest (draft) but it's awesome and it's badass and I haven't read, this is what I told everyone over at Warner Bros., and I love the studio too by the way, you know, I had my experience with them with Get Smart and they were great, I hadn't read an action script like that in a long time. And that action was unbelievable. That will happen.'

But despite Efron not actually having officially signed for the schoolboy role, he has hinted he would love the part - despite being ten years too old.

He says, 'I loved Jonny Quest when I was a kid. If you go a little older, it gives you more, it allows you to be...it just gives you a bit more, you know.' "

I don't mind Dwayne Johnson in the movie but Efron as Quest....NONONONONONONONONONONONONONO! If he wants to be a serious actor he at least needs to have one stinkin' movie when he doesn't freakin' sing!! (Maybe 17 Again?)

From Spirit to Iron?

Apparently Emily Blunt can't be both a Lilliputian Princess for Jack Black and a take-no-prisoner Russian superspy for Samuel L. Jackson either.

From ComingSoon.net:

"Entertainment Weekly is reporting the rumor that Scarlett Johansson is in discussions with Marvel Studios to replace Emily Blunt for the role of Russian superspy Natasha Romanoff, who doubles as Black Widow, in Iron Man II.
Blunt's commitment to 20th Century Fox and the studio's upcoming Gulliver's Travels may prohibit her from co-starring in the superhero sequel.
Marvel will not confirm, but sources tell EW that Johansson has indeed met with the filmmakers and is interested in taking the role. Blunt's reps are still trying to make both projects work, but "Gulliver's" is further along, with a start date of April 15.
Iron Man II still doesn't have a shooting script and a start date has not yet been determined."

STRETCH ARMSTRONG: The Movie?

From ComingSoon.net:

"Universal Pictures has set Bruce Almighty screenwriter Steve Oedekerk to write Stretch Armstrong, a superhero comedy based on the Hasbro-owned toy, reports Variety.

Hasbro's Brian Goldner and Bennett Schneir will produce Stretch Armstrong.

The toy, a 13-inch, blond-haired muscled figure whose limbs could be stretched to nearly four feet, was launched by Kenner in the '70s. He had a dog named Fetch Armstrong, and a sibling, Evil X-Ray Wretch Armstrong. Attempts to turn him into a movie stretch back to 1998, when Disney tried to make the film with Danny DeVito and later Jackie Chan.

Hasbro's Goldner reacquired the rights, and Oedekerk is starting from scratch. He has most recently been working on a sequel to Kung Pow: Enter the Fist, writing, directing and starring in the martial-arts spoof.

The studio and Hasbro are also readying movie transformations of Monopoly (a potential Ridley Scott directing vehicle), Candy Land (with Etan Cohen scripting and Kevin Lima directing), and Ouija (being developed by Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes)."

Huh. Hasbro's getting the vibe from Transformers and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra aren't they? I mean, Monopoly (can anybody see Leslie Nielson as Rich Uncle Moneybags), Candy Land (being done by A Goofy Movie/Tarzan/Enchanted director Kevin Lima), Ouija?! (I thought Ouija had a movie already called What Lies Beneath?!)

WATCHMEN Preview Description

WARNING: DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T WANT WATCHMEN SPOILED FOR YOU. HURM... ONLY THOSE WHO WATCH THE WATCHMEN PASS THROUGH HERE.

From ComingSoon.net:

“The 4th Annual New York Comic-Con was in full swing on Saturday, and the programming in the IGN Theater kicked off with a well-attended Warner Bros. presentation for their upcoming movie slate. First up was Watchmen with the original graphic novel artist and co-creator Dave Gibbons there to introduce the footage. The fans in attendance got really excited when Gibbons announced they would be seeing the first eighteen minutes of the movie. Mind you, a lot of journalists had seen this opening but no one in the general public, and he also said that those in attendance would see a scene that no one else has seen before.

The first eighteen minutes were essentially the same thing shown to various journalists last year, although it looked a little more finished, particularly the music. It opens on the Comedian's smiley face pin and the camera moves out to show Edward Blake aka The Comedian enjoying a quiet night at home watching television and drinking tea. President Nixon is giving a speech about the Russians and the country going to war, followed by an episode of McLaughlin report with look-alikes of McLaughlin and Pat Buchanan. As he watches television, he spots someone standing outside the door and when he breaks in, Comedian acts like he knows the person standing in shadow. He spills out his tea and throws the mug at the person, then follows it up by picking up a gun and shooting but missing. In the graphic novel, we only see a few panels of the fight but we see the entire thing played out as the Comedian and the mystery assailant violently duke it out using their fists and knives. Eventually, the attacker gets the better of the Comedian and starts picking him up and throwing him around like a rag doll, smashing him through a glass table and into a wall. We see a close-up of his smiley button as a splotch of blood drops onto it, creating that iconic image we've all seen, before the Comedian is picked up and thrown through the glass window, and the camera follows him (and the button) as they fall four to five stories to the ground, ending up in a crumpled mess in a pool of blood.

As the opening chords of Bob Dylan's ‘The Times They Are A-Changin'‘ begin to play, the credits essentially go through the history of this alternate world and the place the costumed heroes have in it. We see the end of WWII and a V-day scene where a sultry heroine comes up behind a nurse and gives her a huge kiss to celebrate; later, we see the same heroine and another woman slaughtered in bed with the word ‘whores’ scrawled on the wall behind them. We see Dr. Manhattan meeting John F. Kennedy, and then in the next scene, we see the assassination of Kennedy and we learn that the Comedian was the shooter on the grassy knoll. We see Nixon celebrating his election for a third term, and we get a scene representing the Kent State shootings. The couple appearances by Rorschach during the opening credits, even as a young boy, received huge applause from the knowing fans in the audience. The credits end with the first gathering of the new Crimebusters (although it's rumored that they're being renamed ‘The Watchmen’ to avoid confusion), introducing themselves to the world on television. The camera pans back to show someone spray-painting ‘Who Watches the Watchmen?’ on the window of the television shop but then someone throws a firebomb at the store window which explodes outwards.

The credits end back on the Comedian's smiley button in the pool of blood, which is being washed off the streets and the camera zooms back up to the apartment where two police detectives are examining the crime scene and talking about the death of Eddie Blake. The camera pulls back away from them quickly through the window to show the entire city including the Owl Ship floating in the air not too far away. Then we're back down on the streets as we see Rorschach arrive on the scene, narrated by the entry from his journal similar to the graphic novel, as he finds the Comedian's button in a grate. He pulls out a grappling hook and uses it to smash through the police tape and then projectiles it up to the floor where the detectives were in the previous scene and rappels upwards, then starts to explore the abandoned apartment looking at various objects. He comes to the closet and starts poking around, finding the secret switch that unveils the Comedian's costume and his guns, as well as a portrait of the original Minutemen, and that's where the scene ends, essentially on Page 8 of the original graphic novel.

This extended opening scene was quickly followed by a very short new clip, which involved Rorschach in prison, standing in line for food--we see the kitchen at work including the fryolators as a bit of foreshadowing--and a big black guy behind him pulls a shank on him, but Rorschach slams him in the head with his food tray, smashes the glass and grabs the fry basket full of French fries and smashes it over the head of his would-be assailant who falls to his knees as his face melts away from the blistering heat of the oil. The scene ends with Rorschach growling, ‘I'm not locked in here with you... you're locked in here with me!’ as he's grabbed by the guards. Needless to say, this short clip went over very well.

The first question from the audience asked about the rumors about the end of the graphic novel being changed for the film, particularly the absence of the ‘squid monster’ that many have been clamoring about. ‘The outcome is exactly the same as the graphic novel, but the MacGuffin, the gimmick, is a little different,’ Gibbons told him. ‘I think you know what I mean; there's no squid. I'd rather not say too much about it, but I certainly wasn't at all upset or disappointed or offended. I think that's the most important thing about the movie adaptation is that it has to stand as a good movie. The reality of it is that you have to make changes and you have to take things away, add things on, amalgamate things to make it work in a different medium.’

The next question also asked about the squid, to which Gibbons exclaimed, ‘Why is the squid so important?’ but he mused a bit more about the change for the movie. ‘In a sense, in the comic book, the squid is kind of a huge special effect that Adrian Veidt pulls, a practical joke, a trick, but if you have a movie that essentially is full of special effects, than the squid is just another special effect, if you see what I mean, so that I think that wouldn't have worked as well in the movie. That's my personal feeling about it. Sorry for all your cephalopod lovers out there.’ This got a great laugh, as did Gibbons' suggestion that after the premiere, they could all go out for calamari.

Gibbons also fielded a question about any stipulations that Warner Bros. might have in terms of making a prequel or a sequel to the film if it proves successful. ‘If they want to make a prequel or sequel there's nothing I can do to stop them from doing it,’ he admitted. ‘At least on one occasion, DC was once tempted to do spinoffs and a sequel but wiser heads prevailed, and they left it alone, and I think ultimately, that was completely the correct decision.’

‘If you try to add anything to Watchmen, you're not enriching it, you're diluting it,’ he continued. ‘Sure, you can tell another adventure of Batman or Spider-Man, but (‘Watchmen’) is like a complete story, and certainly, while I'm very supportive of this and I'm very thrilled by what they've done with it, I think if someone mentioned to me about doing a prequel or sequel, my impression is that you won't get Zack Snyder directing it, so my counsel would be 'Leave well enough alone.'‘ (This got a big cheer, so take note, Warner Bros.)

When asked, Gibbons also confirmed that Alan Moore is the most rational and sane person he's ever met and is not ‘batsh*t crazy’ as some people in Hollywood might think due to his unwillingness to be involved with the movie or accept any of the profits if the movie proves to be as big a success as many think. Furthermore, Gibbons confirmed that his first experience in Hollywood has been very good and that he's been treated very well by everyone, though he also confirmed (as most expect) that Moore's name will definitely not be on the movie.

To conclude the presentation, Gibbons talked about the history of turning his graphic novel into a movie including the proposed version with Arnold Schwarzenegger as Dr. Manhattan, the Terry Gilliam and Paul Greengrass attempts at trying to get the project off the ground over the years, and how after meeting Zack Snyder at the London premiere of 300, he had a gut feeling back then that he ‘got it’ and that ‘nothing's changed in that gut feeling.’”