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Lee Houston, Junior (8:42 PM on Sun Aug 26, 2007)

Having taken the time to study the chart and think about the overall story, even today I would have no problem with Kevin Costner as Nite Owl or Robin Williams as Rorschach.
I have always pictured those characters within the Watchman universe as older/maturer in comparison to the rest of the cast and I think those actors could play the characters admirably.
But knowing Hollywood, they might quibble over Costner. If it was me at the helm directing, I would still fight for both, yet would give up Costner in hopes of keeping Williams.

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Haggis (6:57 PM on Mon Aug 27, 2007)

I have to disagree, Lee. As crazy as it seems, the Terry Gilliam version of Watchmen would have been horrible, and I'm a big fan of Gilliam. Williams would have been a terrible Rorschach, especially in the time period when he was doing mostly family pics.

And I'm sorry to any Costner fans out there, but he hasn't been relevant since Dances With Wolves. He's got the emotional range of a used band-aid, and it's pretty obvious if you watch any of the films after DWW. Even the latest stint as a bad guy (Mr. Brooks) couldn't get people in seats.

I'm very excited about the Snyder version coming up. I think Billy Crudup will be a great Dr. Manhattan, and obviously the first person ever agreed to the part as well. I'm also partial because Jackie Earl Haley works in my office building, and he agreed to autography my Watchmen graphic novel. :D

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Lee Houston, Junior (9:33 PM on Mon Aug 27, 2007)

I never made any comments about Terry Gilliam as a director for I had none on that subject, which is a moot point now.
My opinions were based upon performer versus specific role.
I still feel Williams can portray Rorschach, especially in light of some of the more "darker" roles he has taken over the years like One Hour Photo.
I never had the impression of neither Rorschach or Nite Owl being young men, hence my belief in Costner being able to portray a retired super-hero having to come back into action for one final case.
But if I was directing at it came down to a choice, I said I would give up Costner and keep Williams.
Of course my casting opinions are a moot point too. Hollywood is going to do what it thinks "best".

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Mike Gold (8:46 AM on Tue Aug 28, 2007)

Funny thing. I had a lengthy conversation with Gilliam at a screening of Fisher King right after he lost the Watchman gig. Having come from one of those extremely surreal meetings with DC's corporate masters, the Warner Bros. studio (I was DC's director of editorial development at the time), I was wearing my mandatory corporate WB-shield lapel pin at the time. Gilliam, who I had met twice before -- once on my radio show, once at McDonalds -- saw the pin and just glowered at me. This is an intimidating sight.

I explained I was with DC and I offered him my condolences, telling him I would have enjoyed his take on the movie. We then spent about a half hour in conversation (ComicMix's Mike Raub was there, come to think of it) and Gilliam brushed aside a then-still-alive Carl Sagan to continue our talk.

So, yeah, I'm a Gilliam fan.

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