Moviefone Editorial

Tag: Alan Moore

  • HBO Plans ‘V for Vendetta’ DC TV Series

    Hugo Weaving in Warner Bros. 'V for Vendetta' (2006).
    Hugo Weaving in Warner Bros.’ ‘V for Vendetta’ (2006).

    Preview:

    • A ‘V for Vendetta’ TV series is in the works at HBO.
    • It’ll adapt the Alan Moore comic book series, which became a film in 2006.
    • Pete Jackson is writing the show.

    Given the perilous political climate we’re experiencing right now, it seems somehow fitting that ‘V for Vendetta’ –– a story of the fight back against a fascistic regime –– is getting another shot at screens.

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    Variety reports that HBO and DC Studios are developing a new series based on the Alan Moore comics series from the 1980s, though nothing is official just yet.

    DC and HBO did not comment for the trade magazine’s story, and at time of writing, we’ve yet to hear DC Studios boss James Gunn weigh in on whether this is truly happening. So, pinch of salt at the ready!

    Related Article: ‘V for Vendetta’: 10 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About the Controversial Film

    What’s the story of ‘V for Vendetta’?

    (L to R): Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving in Warner Bros. 'V for Vendetta' (2006).
    (L to R): Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving in Warner Bros.’ ‘V for Vendetta’ (2006).

    ‘V for Vendetta’ began life as a comic serial written by Moore and illustrated by David Lloyd. It debuted in 1982 in the British anthology “Warrior,” with DC taking over publishing it in 1988.

    The story is set in Britain in a dystopian, not-too-distant future in which the country is controlled by the fascistic Norsefire party.

    An anarchist named V, known for his distinctive Guy Fawkes mask, seeks to topple the government with the help of Evey Hammond, a young woman V rescued from the country’s secret police.

    Warner Bros. produced a 2006 movie adaptation starring Hugo Weaving playing V (and in some scenes, dubbing his voice over the performance of James Purefoy, who was originally cast) and Natalie Portman as Evey.

    It was written by the Wachowskis and directed by James McTeigue, who had worked with them on ‘The Matrix’ and other projects.

    Who is working on the potential new ‘V for Vendetta’ series?

    Hugo Weaving in Warner Bros. 'V for Vendetta' (2006).
    Hugo Weaving in Warner Bros.’ ‘V for Vendetta’ (2006).

    Reportedly cranking out the script is Pete Jackson –– no, not the New Zealand based filmmaker famous for the ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies, instead the UK showrunner responsible for the series ‘Somewhere Boy,’ which aired in 2022.

    He is also the writer behind the upcoming series ‘The Death of Bunny Munro’ starring Matt Smith, which is based on the book of the same name by Nick Cave.

    When might the ‘V for Vendetta’ series hit screens?

    Assuming it actually does become a reality, we wouldn’t expect this one on HBO much before 2027.

    John Hurt in Warner Bros. 'V for Vendetta' (2006).
    John Hurt in Warner Bros.’ ‘V for Vendetta’ (2006).

    Movies and TV adapted from Alan Moore’s work:

    Buy Alan Moore movies and TV on Amazon

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  • Titus Welliver, Katee Sackhoff and More Join Animated ‘Watchmen’ Movie

    (Left) Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch in 'Bosch: Legacy.' Photo: Tyler Golden. Copyright: Amazon Freevee. (Center) Katee Sackhoff attends the studio showcase panel at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California on May 26, 2022. Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney. (Right) Matthew Rhys in 'The Americans'. Photo: FX Productions.
    (Left) Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch in ‘Bosch: Legacy.’ Photo: Tyler Golden. Copyright: Amazon Freevee. (Center) Katee Sackhoff attends the studio showcase panel at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California on May 26, 2022. Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney. (Right) Matthew Rhys in ‘The Americans’. Photo: FX Productions.

    Preview:

    • Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen has been adapted into an animated movie.
    • Titus Welliver, Katee Sackhoff and Matthew Rhys are leading the cast.
    • J. Michael Straczynski wrote the two-part adaptation.

    ‘Watchmen’ still stands as one of the most influential graphic novels of all time and has been a big challenge to adapt.

    It doesn’t help that original co-creator Alan Moore (who crafted the book with artist Dave Gibbons) is no fan of anyone trying to convert his work into a new medium.

    We can only imagine, then, that he’s busy conjuring a damning spell to thwart the latest effort, but he’s too late –– after being announced at last year’s Comic-Con, an animated, two-part movie called ‘Watchman: Chapter I’, based on the graphic novel is on the way (and has been in the works since at least 2021), with Matthew Rhys, Katee Sackhoff and Titus Welliver in the lead roles.

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    What’s the story of the ‘Watchmen’ animated movie?

    Doctor Manhattan in 'Watchmen: Chapter 1'.
    Doctor Manhattan in ‘Watchmen: Chapter 1’. Photo: DC Studios.

    The movie will once again bring to screens Moore and Gibbons’ story, published in 1986 and set in an alternative world in which costumed vigilantes are real. Inspired by Moore being unable to use some of DC’s big name characters, he created his own alternates and challenged the nature and morality of superhero storytelling.

    Rhys will voice Dan Dreiberg (aka Nite Owl), Sackhoff will voice Laurie Juspeczyk (aka Silk Spectre), while Welliver will voice Walter Kovacs (aka Rorschach).

    Troy Baker will voice Adrian Veidt (aka Ozymandias), while Michael Ceveris will voice Jonathan Osterman (aka Dr. Manhattan).

    Who else is in the new ‘Watchmen’ movie?

    The Comedian in 'Watchmen: Chapter 1'.
    The Comedian in ‘Watchmen: Chapter 1’. Photo: DC Studios.

    Rick D. Wasserman is playing Edward Blake (aka The Comedian), Adrienne Barbeau voices Sally Jupiter (aka the first Silk Spectre), Jeffrey Combs is Edgar Jacobi (aka Moloch), Geoff Pierson plays Hollis Mason (aka the first Nite Owl), Corey Burton voices Captain Metropolis, John Marshall Jones is Hooded Justice, Yuri Lowenthal plays Wally Weaver, and Kari Wahlgren is the voice performer for Janey Slater.

    Grey DeLisle, Kelly Hu, Max Koch, Phil LaMarr, Dwight Schultz and Jason Spisak are voicing unspecified roles.

    Related Article: Titus Welliver and Mimi Rogers Talk ‘Bosch: Legacy’ Season 2 and Beyond

    Who is working on the new ‘Watchmen’ movie?

    Rorschach in 'Watchmen: Chapter 1'.
    Rorschach in ‘Watchmen: Chapter 1’. Photo: DC Studios.

    Both parts of the movie have been adapted by ‘Babylon 5’ creator J. Michael Straczynski, though he has confirmed on social media that he’s not made huge changes to the scripts:


    Warner Animation veteran Brandon Vietti is in the director’s chair for both chapters.

    What other adaptations have there been?

    2009's 'Watchmen.'
    2009’s ‘Watchmen.’ Photo: Warner Bros.

    ‘Watchmen’ has been targeted several times for adaptation, including by a variety of filmmakers who tried, but couldn’t make it happen; Terry Gilliam, David Hayter, Darren Aronofsky among them.

    Zack Snyder finally succeeded, with his (mostly) faithful live-action adaptation debuting in 2009 to mixed reviews and $185.3 million worldwide. It was supported by its own animation, a take on the graphic novel’s story-within-the-story ‘Tales of the Black Freighter’.

    Damon Lindelof won praise for his 2019 HBO series, which continues the story 30 years after the events of the graphic novel, drawing from the canon history but also going off in interesting new directions.

    When will ‘Watchmen: Chapter I’ be on screens?

    Rorschach in 'Watchmen: Chapter 1'.
    Rorschach in ‘Watchmen: Chapter 1’. Photo: DC Studios.

    The first Chapter will debut on August 13th for digital purchase and on August 27th on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. ‘Watchmen Chapter II’ will be released in late 2024.

    Find the trailer for Chapter I below:

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    Doctor Manhattan in 'Watchmen: Chapter 1'.
    Doctor Manhattan in ‘Watchmen: Chapter 1’. Photo: DC Studios.

    Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Watchmen’ Franchise:

    Buy ‘Watchmen’ Movies On Amazon

  • Keanu Reeves Back For a ‘Constantine’ Sequel

    Keanu Reeves as John Constantine in 2005's 'Constantine.'
    Keanu Reeves as John Constantine in 2005’s ‘Constantine.’

    Warner Bros. Discovery might still be trying to figure out its DC Comics future, with recent disappointments including the shelving of ‘Batgirl’ and the difficulty in finding a guiding hand who could conceivably generate the same level of success as Marvel’s Kevin Feige has for Disney.

    Yet in terms of pleasing fans, the company certainly took a positive step forward today, with word via Deadline that it is developing a sequel to 2005 Keanu Reeves-starring movie ‘Constantine’.

    Comic book history briefing time! The character of chain-smoking (and cancer-ridden) Liverpool native John Constantine first appeared in ‘Swamp Thing #37’, published in June 1985, created by Alan Moore, Stephen R. Bissette, Rick Veitch, and John Totleben, and came to prominence in Garth Ennis and Jamie Delano’s ‘Hellblazer’ comics.

    He’s as supernatural exorcist and demonologist, and something of a detective, though his personal life is a mess and his personal grooming leaves something to be desired.

    In the movie, Reeves’ Constantine is approached by Detective Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz) who needs his help to prove that her twin sister Isabel’s (also Weisz) death was not a suicide.

    The dead woman was a devout Catholic and Angela refuses to accept she would have taken her own life. John takes the case partly because he’s looking to make amends – having been to hell, he knows what awaits him when he dies, and thanks to his habits and health issues, he knows that’s coming sooner than he’d like.

    Keanu Reeves as John Constantine in 2005's 'Constantine.'
    Keanu Reeves as John Constantine in 2005’s ‘Constantine.’

    As he looks into Isabel’s death, he realizes demons are trying to break through to the human world, and his battles lead him into the middle of a conflict between the Angel Gabriel (Tilda Swinton) and Satan (Peter Stomare).

    Though the movie wasn’t the biggest hit with critics, it did make more than $200 million at the box office and fans have hoped for a return ever since.

    Now Reeves is officially back, and Francis Lawrence, who made his directorial debut with the previous film, is back to call the shots again.

    Different this time around is the writer, as Akiva Goldsman is on for script duty this time – and while he’s been doing solid work with the ‘Star Trek’ franchise, there will be concern that not every movie screenplay has been involved with has worked (yes, ‘Jonah Hex’, we’re looking at you).

    The story this time is a mystery, but we can expect Constantine to be dealing with supernatural threats in his own particular way, with J.J. Abrams producing via his Bad Robot company.

    Outside of that movie adaptation, Constantine the character has appeared in different forms, including a version played by Matt Ryan, who first appeared in his own short-lived show and has then popped up on various series on the CW network.

    Then there’s Johanna Constantine (Jenna Coleman), taken from Neil Gaiman’s ‘Sandman’ comics, who appears in the Netflix adaptation (while rights issues mean John didn’t show up).

    Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death and Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine in Netflix's 'The Sandman.'
    (L to R) Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death and Jenna Coleman as Johanna Constantine in Netflix’s ‘The Sandman.’

    It’s still early days for the new movie, so no release date is in place yet.

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  • New ‘Watchmen’ Trailer Showcases Life on Mars

    New ‘Watchmen’ Trailer Showcases Life on Mars

    HBO

    This year’s big-budget retelling of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ beloved graphic novel “Watchmen” has been one of the most tantalizing question-marks on the TV landscape this year. We knew it was coming but what would it be? Thankfully, a new trailer, released to coincide with San Diego Comic Con, has shed some light on the project, if not given us any straight-up answers. Maybe it’s best if you just watch the trailer for the Damon Lindelof-created series yourself:

    As you can see, there are some hallmarks from the original work: Dr. Manhattan (who is playing the character has yet to be revealed), on and off of Mars; the Owl Ship; a sneering Ozymandias (Jeremy Irons); Nixon; squids! There are also allusions to Silk Spectre and the pirate comic strip that acted as a through-line in the original series. Everything else though … wow. It seems to involve a vast conspiracy, the philosophical conundrum of vigilantism, and Don Johnson chewing the scenery with reckless abandon. And, true to earlier reports, it seems to be something of a companion piece/sequel to the original story (fitting for a series as obsessed with alternate history as Moore and Gibbons’ book) and not a direct adaptation. We are in.

    The series, which features a score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, will premiere before Halloween this year. But something tells me that after watching the show, maybe you won’t want to wear a mask.

    For all of our San Diego Comic Con coverage, please click here!