It is interesting to see how times change, especially when it involves a comic movie that has been in development for over 15 years. Film Ick has a visual guide to the Watchmen cast, that chronicles the different directors and who they would have had playing the roles had they been approved. Click the image for larger view.
Read more about the comparison chart at the website.
Stephen Schleicher began his career writing for the Digital Media Online community of sites, including Digital Producer and Creative Mac covering all aspects of the digital content creation industry. He then moved on to consumer technology, and began the Coolness Roundup podcast. A writing fool, Stephen has freelanced for Sci-Fi Channel's Technology Blog, and Gizmodo. Still longing for the good ol' days, Stephen launched Major Spoilers in July 2006, because he is a glutton for punishment. You can follow him on Twitter @MajorSpoilers and tell him your darkest secrets...
8 Comments
Am I just being an ol’ stick in the mud if I say I like the 2005 cast a skosh better than 2007?
No. You’re right. Jude Law as Ozymandias makes sense. Perlman I don’t know, but at that time he used to play bad or tough guys, so that’s probably ok. The 2007 cast seems pretty much no-name no-face.
no you are not, because I agree.
I can totally see Gary Abuse-y playing a sociopath who likes to brutalize women and may or may not have incestuous intentions towards his daughter.
I can also see him playing the Comedian.
I’m just sayin’ is all…
I am surprised that Robin Williams was being considered for Rorschach, I always thought he would have made a better Nite-Owl. Of course, I also always believed William H. Macy would have made the perfect Rorschach as well.
…and I would be remiss if I did not also mention that at one point, Tom Cruise was speculated to play Ozymandias, and that would’ve been just perfect in its own way.
I agree that the ’05 cast might be more exciting, though these actors were only rumored, correct? So who knows if this would have actually been the real cast had Greengrass made the movie. On the other hand, I might be a bit more excited if “Watchmen” was being directed by the guy who made the last 2 Bourne movies…
I don’t know the actual cast well enough to comment but the guys playing Nite Owl and Ozymandias seem a bit young to be former supes, to me. At least we are spared Robin Williams playing Rorschach. It would have been him imitating “Rain Man” for 2 hours. Whew!!!
Terry Gilliam’s Watchmen would have been phenomenal!!!! He’s a strong enough director that I don’t think Robin Williams would have been able to run amok. Brazil and 12 Monkeys are two of the best movies ever made. It probably would not have been a verbatim version of the comic, but he would have brought his own input to the source material. I’d envision it as similar to what Ridley Scott did to “Do androids dream of electric sheep” when he made Blade Runner. Of course Alan Moore would have orphaned the project and claimed it wasn’t his (but that’s nothing new).
Costner as Nite Owl? Heh. But Robin Williams? As Rorschach? Look, I love Gilliam from his Python days all the way through “Tideland,” but that’s just asking for it. Williams being serious is hard sell in a straight drama, but in a dark drama about costumed superheroes the very idea BEGS the audience to smirk.
If Patrick Wilson and Matthew Goode can put on some weight–different types of weight, mind you–I believe the 2007 cast is perfect, although Wilson seems young for the part.
Wait…90’s Costner? Phoenix? Wilson? Come to think of it, each director seems to picture Nite Owl as a Young Dashing Handsome Hero role, when he’s a burned-out overweight has-been with a limp noodle. I hope that’s not indicative of liberties taken with the story.