During last year's San Diego Comic-Con, Warner Bros. Animation announced plans for adaptations of Crisis on Infinite Earths and Watchmen.
We've had two instalments of the three-part Crisis so far and both have proven to be largely disappointing. With DC Studios looking to tell stories across live-action and animation (Creature Commandos is set to bow this December), those direct-to-DVD movies run the risk of concluding on a sour note thanks to the upcoming Part Three.
On the plus side, though, we still have Watchmen to look forward to. The iconic graphic novel was written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, with Zack Snyder bringing it to theaters in a live-action 2008 movie (which controversially did away with the squid).
Since then, we've had Damon Lindelof's sequel series on HBO which received widespread critical acclaim.
As for this project, a panel at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market saw Warner Bros. Animation confirm it will be a CG-animated two-part movie. The first half drops this year, with the second heading our way in 2025.
Interestingly, it's described as a "leap forward for our DC Cinematic Animation," with those lucky enough to have seen an early trailer describing it as "very vibrant."
As we write this, there's still no official word on a creative team or voice cast. It's previously been reported that the first part could be released on August 13 but, you guessed it, that too is unconfirmed.
Watchmen is set in an alternate 1985 and explores a world where superheroes emerged in the 1940s and 1960s, altering historical events, including the Vietnam War and the presidency of Richard Nixon.
The narrative centres on the investigation of the murder of a former hero, The Comedian, led by the masked vigilante Rorschach. As he delves deeper, he uncovers a complex conspiracy involving his fellow heroes: the detached Dr. Manhattan, the idealistic Nite Owl, the pragmatic Silk Spectre, and the brilliant but morally ambiguous Ozymandias.
Watchmen deconstructs the superhero genre, presenting its characters as flawed, deeply human individuals grappling with personal and societal issues. Themes of power, morality, and the nature of heroism are explored against a backdrop of Cold War tensions and impending nuclear apocalypse. It's rightly considered one of the greatest graphic novels of all time.
Only time will tell how this animated adaptation turns out, though we're hoping for a version which is faithful to the source material both in terms of plot and visuals.
Stay tuned for updates on Watchmen as we have them.