Warner Bros. issued a press release today announcing the DVD and Blu Ray release of the much anticipated “Watchmen” companion — “Watchmen: Tales from the Black Freighter and Under the Hood” — will be released on March 24, 2009.

“Tales of the Black Freighter” will also include “Under the Hood,” an autobiography of “Watchmen” character Nite Owl featured heavily in the graphic novel.

Both titles are executive produced by “Watchmen” director Zack Snyder, Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin, Deborah Snyder, Thomas Tull and Wesley Coller.

A comic-within-a-comic from the original “Watchmen” graphic novel, “Tales of the Black Freighter”tells the story of a sailor’s return home after being marooned. It is read in “Watchmen” the graphic novel by a young man in New York City while the city around him is being destroyed. The events in “Black Freighter” seem to mirror those in the world of “Watchmen.”

A “Director’s Cut” version of “Watchmen” is planned to be released incorporating “Tales of the Black Freighter” into the film as director Zack Snyder had originally intended. Due to the length it added to the film, Snyder was forced not to include “Black Freighter” in “Watchmen”s theatrical release.

“Under the Hood” is the autobiography of the original Nite Howl, Hollis Mason. It discusses how Mason’s life led him to become a masked avenger and how the Minutemen, the first superheroes to emerge in the “Watchmen” universe, were formed. It is directed by Eric Matthies, written by Hans Rodionoff and produced by Eric Matthies and Wesley Coller. Stars Carla Gugino, Matt Frewer, Stephen McHattie and Jeffrey Dean Morgan appear as their characters from the theatrical “Watchmen” film in this live-action documentary style special.

“Watchmen: Tales from the Black Freighter and Under the Hood” will be available on standard definition disc for $27.95 and Blu-ray disc for $35.99.

About The Author

Terri Schwartz was a Blast Contributing Editor from 2008-2009.

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