The 'Watchmen' you didn't see

So, the film "Watchmen" was just released in theaters. Did you know that people have been trying to make this film for 20 plus years?

Well they have and some of their versions are a little different from the current film and graphic novel.

The first attempt was by Sam Hamm ("Batman") and director Terry Gilliam ("12 Monkeys") in 1998. The big difference is the main evil plot of the book's "villain." Instead of a giant squid or massive explosions, the villain decides to travel back in time to kill Dr. Manhattan before he got his powers. Sally Jupiter is also nowhere to be found in that draft.

Next up was David Hayter ("X2") wrote a draft which he was also going to direct, then later left, and then was rumored to have been directed by Darren Aronofsky ("The Wrestler") directing. He left, apparently, to direct "The Fountain." Hayter's original script changed some of the novel's scenes to what the current film has, including the ending, Night Owl's reaction to Manhattan and Rorschach's final scene and the one sided fight between Owl and Ozymandius.

You can check out both scripts plus a couple more at this site:

http://www.watchmencomicmovie.com/watchmen-movie-scripts.php

Just for fun, here are some early casting rumors I found on the internet:

Thomas Jane ("The Punisher") as The Comedian.
Robin Williams (From everything!) as Rorschach.
Kevin Costner ("Dances with Wolves") as Night Owl.
Tom Cruise ("Top Gun") as Ozymandius.
Hilary Swank ("Boys Don't Cry") as Silk Spectre.