DC has officially unveiled the voice cast for its highly-anticipated two-part animated adaptation of “Watchmen.” The announcement came just hours after Warner Bros. Entertainment released the first redband trailer for the movie.
An All-Star Lineup
IGN broke the news about the impressive voice cast for “Watchmen Chapter I” which features several actors from popular franchises like Star Wars, Uncharted, and Bosch. Matthew Rhys, known for his roles in “The Americans” and “Perry Mason,” will voice Daniel Dreiberg/Nite Owl II. “Bosch” star Titus Welliver is set to bring Walter Kovacs/Rorschach to life. From the Star Wars universe, Katee Sackhoff (Bo-Katan) and Corey Burton (Cad Bane) will voice Laurie Juspeczyk/Silk Spectre II and Captain Metropolis, respectively. Acclaimed voice actor Troy Baker, known for “The Last of Us” and “Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End,” will portray Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias. Adrienne Barbeau, who voiced Catwoman in “Batman: The Animated Series,” will take on the role of Sally Jupiter, the original Silk Spectre.
The voice cast also includes Michael Cerveris (“Fringe”) as Dr. Jonathan Osterman/Doctor Manhattan, Jeffrey Combs (“Re-Animator”) as Edgar Jacobi/Moloch, John Marshall Jones (“Smart Guy”) as Hooded Justice, Yuri Lowenthal (“Marvel’s Spider-Man”) as Wally Weaver, Geoff Pierson (“Young Justice”) as Hollis Mason/Nite Owl, Kari Wahlgren (“X-Men ’97”) as Janey Slater, and Rick D. Wasserman (“Justice League vs. Teen Titans”) as Edward Blake/The Comedian. Additional voices will be provided by Grey DeLisle, Kelly Hu, Max Koch, Phil LaMarr, Dwight Schultz, and Jason Spisak, although their specific roles have not yet been disclosed.
The Story of Watchmen
“Watchmen Chapter I” adapts the acclaimed 12-issue limited series by writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons. Set in an alternate history, the story unfolds in a world where superheroes, once celebrated as “costumed adventurers,” have been banned by a society disillusioned with vigilantism. The official synopsis reads: “In 1985, the murder of The Comedian, a hero-turned-government operative, draws the attention of Rorschach, the last of the outlawed vigilantes. Rorschach’s investigation embroils his retired colleagues—Nite Owl, Silk Spectre, Dr. Manhattan, and Ozymandias—in a conflict with their pasts, with each other, and in a mystery that threatens their lives and a world on the brink of war.”
Runtime, Rating, and Release Details
While Zack Snyder’s 2009 live-action adaptation of “Watchmen” had a runtime of 163 minutes, “Watchmen Chapter I” will be a more concise 83 minutes. If the second part has a similar runtime, the combined total will be just slightly longer than Snyder’s film, at 166 minutes. “Watchmen Chapter I” has been rated R by the Motion Picture Association for “violent content and some graphic nudity.”
Jim Krieg and Cindy Rago are producing the animated adaptation, with Dave Gibbons serving as a consulting producer. Sam Register, Larry Gordon, and Lloyd Levin are executive producers. The home video release will include several bonus features, such as interviews with Dave Gibbons and J. Michael Straczynski, along with two featurettes.
“Watchmen Chapter I” will be available digitally on August 13, with a 4K UHD and Blu-ray release following on August 27. “Watchmen Chapter II” is slated for release later this year.