This is The World According to Buchs - Keepin’ it moving since 2003!

The long, long, long in development graphic novel-to-film version of The Watchmen appears to be in trouble - again.

The Watchmen is widely regarded as the seminal work of the graphic novel genre. The book is set in an alternate version of the mid 80’s, where real-life masked heros have been around since the 30’s, and Nixon is serving his 5th term as president. These heros don’t have any superpowers, they’re just normal people who decided that they wanted to be wear costumes and fight crime. They’re eventually outlawed as vigilantes, and the few remaining heros get tied up in a murder mystery. I’m afraid to say any more about the plot - if anyone wants to borrow my copy, let me know.

It’s a deep and complex story - and very, very dark. About 15 years ago, Terry Gilliam (Brazil, Twelve Monkeys, etc.) was given the opportunity to give it a go. He abandoned the project, sayin g that is could never be done as a 2-hour film - but he would consider directing it as a twelve hour miniseries. Several other writers and directors have taken stabs at it (Darren Aranofsky, for one), but nothing has come of it.

For the last year, Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy, Bloody Sunday) has been working on the project. It was originally given a $100 Million budget, but Paramount is starting to back off. The Word On The Street is that they’re waiting to see how Sin City does - another highly regarded graphic novel-cum-movie - before commiting to it.