Having done justice to the graphic novel with his visually stunning and character driven movie, Director Zack Snyder is back to tinkering.  Making a shorter and more theatrical friendly version, Snyder is now piecing his original version together for the DVD release of WATCHMEN: DIRECTOR’S CUT.  More a complete version of the film then a replacing of deleted scenes, Snyder has added twenty-four minutes to his vision of Alan Moore’s unforgettable graphic novel.  It’s a version Snyder is proud of and The213.net got a chance to chat with him about what to expect in the new version, plus insight into shooting such a large and controversial story and the success of his previous flick 300.

ZACK SNYDER

(213): So Watchmen – The Director’s Cut.  How does it differ from the theatrical version?

Zack Snyder: I think the director’s cut for me was just…look I understood that a three hour and ten minute movie was the deal.  I was briefly under the illusion that that might sail – very briefly!  I was like, ‘Yeah, it’s awesome!’  And the studio was like, ‘Are you high?  What are you doing over there in the editing room – smoking dope?’  So I understood we were gonna have to make it short.  It’s not like they were twisting my arm or putting a gun to my head.  People are always going what are the deleted scenes, but I don’t really look at it like that – this is the movie.  Unfortunately I made a movie that in order to show in the theater I had to re-do it so it could be shown (laughs) – that’s the difference.

(213): Billy Crudup’s naked state – was that something that was ever a problem with the studio or financiers?  Did they ever object?

ZS: They did!  They said, ‘What are you doing – this man is naked!  And he’s expensive!’ (Laughs)  They were spending a lot of money making a naked guy.  The one thing I would say is that they were really supportive because they knew they were gonna cut these big Manhattan scenes and they finished it anyway which is really cool.  Because they twisted my arm a little bit like we’ll finish your crazy movie if you help us get it cut and into IMAX.  I think ever since DVD’s really came the idea of a Director’s Cut has become a thing that’s sort of universally accepted.  Almost every movie has a Director’s Cut now like the Director’s Cut of…

(213): Legally Blonde?!

ZS: (Laughs)  Yeah!  That’s the difference – this movie really is.  And I think the experience of seeing it you know!  And even seeing Peter’s Lord of the Rings movies, they’re awesome, but the Director’s Cut of those movies are the extended versions.  Those movies are cool with the extra footage, but they don’t make you go, ‘Of course, I didn’t know Frodo…’ – you’re clear on what’s happening.  But when we finished this it was like that’s the movie.

(213): Can we expect a cool and candid commentary track?

ZS: Definitely.  And also I’m not afraid.  I guess some filmmakers are afraid to reveal their tricks – it’s a movie for God’s sakes!  It’s not a magic trick – it’s a movie!  If I really want to I could just go to the visual effects house that made the movie!  So I’m very candid about how we did it because I think that’s cool stuff to know.

(213): How much did the success of 300 contribute to you getting Watchmen and making it your way?

ZS: Oh, one hundred percent.  Without 300 there is no Watchmen.  There’s no Watchmen like this.  The Watchmen movie that gets made without 300 is a completely PG-13 two hour movie for sure.  I don’t know what that is, but it would be a superhero movie – that’s what you would have gotten for sure.