The esteemed annual event, San Diego Comic Con, known for its landmark announcements and enticing panel reveals, has recently brought to light exciting news for comic book enthusiasts and animation movie aficionados. This year, amongst many other intriguing revelations such as the ‘The Continental’ and ‘Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match’, DC Studios has piqued fan interest with the unveiling of an upcoming ‘Watchmen’ animated film, scheduled for launch in 2024.
The unexpected news came on the heels of a screening for ‘Justice League: Warworld’. The DC Entertainment honchos followed up the event with a stunning announcement: the forthcoming year will witness the release of not just a new adaptation of ‘Watchmen’, but also the much-anticipated ‘Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths’.
Casting our minds back to 2009, the venerable Zack Snyder had introduced audiences to a live-action version of the renowned graphic novel. A sequel series subsequently graced our screens a decade later, in 2019.
The concept of an animated ‘Watchmen’ movie isn’t entirely novel. It was first announced in 2017, but it’s only now that DC has chosen to tease us further with a fresh logo for the forthcoming feature.
Also Read: ‘The Watchmen’ was ahead of its time: Jeffrey Dean Morgan
The iconic ‘Watchmen’, penned by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, made its debut in 1986. It revolutionized the comic book industry and, eventually, the superhero show and movie scene with its intense dark tone, realistic storytelling, and violent approach. This was a stark contrast to the lighthearted, campy direction that DC was taking at that time. Alongside other legendary DC graphic novels such as ‘The Sandman’, ‘V For Vendetta’, and ‘The Dark Knight Returns’, ‘Watchmen’ significantly influenced the way comics were perceived and produced.
The official narrative summary of the comic reads as follows: “Rorschach, a semi-insane vigilante, is tasked with the daunting job of persuading his former comrades, now living the mundane life of middle age and retirement, that a malicious plan to eliminate the remaining superheroes – along with countless innocent civilians – is underway. But, even if they band together once more, will the remnants of the Watchmen be sufficient to stave off a global catastrophe?”
DC’s new animated films are set to be exclusive to home releases, which will likely include DC’s sole live-action movie ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’. This unique musical adaptation is scheduled to premiere on October 4, 2024, featuring Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role as Joker and Lady Gaga debuting as Harley Quinn.
Snyder’s original live-action movie, which remained faithful to the source material, is slated to be a primary influence for the new film. However, as of now, the specifics of the film remain under wraps. The only tidbit available is that the film will be an adult-oriented animation, a logical choice given the comic’s somber and violent disposition.
