I think it’s safe to say that there’s a whole lot of love around these parts for Russian helmer Timur Bekmambetov and his vampire epics Night Watch and Day Watch. Sure, they’re not completely linear but part of the joy is Bekmambetov’s unique way of telling a bizare story with big budget-like special effects and good acting. I mean seriously…magic chalk? Who else but Bekmambetov could actually pull this off?
It was only a matter of time before Hollywood came a-knocking and his new film, the Hollywood big budget extravaganza Wanted which stars James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie, is looking like fun but it’s no conclusion to the Watch trilogy.
There had been rumblings that the third film in the trilogy, Dusk Watch (based on the book titled “Twilight Watch”) would be filmed stateside with American actors but that was never really confirmed but fans expected some sort of capping off of the series. Now it looks like that may not happen. And not just the American version but any version at all.
In a recent interview at NYCC, Bekmambetov put a temporary kibosh on a new entry into the trilogy stating that
“[Wanted] is my Dusk Watch for now,” the director said during the panel, “because it’s really the same chance, a different story, but the same genre. Unfortunately I don’t know when Dusk Watch will happen… Let’s say this is Dusk Watch.”
I’m a little miffed at this, especially considering that his first two films did fairly well this side of the water. Still, the project is only dead for now. Let us hope that someone decides they too want to see where Dusk Watch takes the characters we’ve come to love (or hate).
Thanks to Alison at the IFC Blog for the heads up on the update.
This is saddening. I’m still UBER-pissed about the DVD release without stylized subs too. Half the joy of the movie; gone.
For the Night Watch or Day Watch release? I’ve only bought the Night Watch release and my DVD is double sided – one dubbed with the English and the other with the wicked cool subtitles.
Strange that they wouldn’t finish the story since these films are huge in Russia. I’m very against doing a third part in a trilogy with totally different actors and setting. Ruski Karamba!
The story does end beautifully after Day Watch. I’ve got no issue that the franchise is dead here. DW had a very very satisfying ending.
I’m pretty sure my Day Watch DVD has stylized subtitles.
REALLY!? Where did you buy it? Mine definitely does not. Unless it’s an option I missed in the menu.
I don’t own “Night Watch,” so I can’t attest to that one.
I bought it at Target. I’ll throw it in and double check for you, but I always remembered it had the stylized subtitles. I know Night Watch does.
I just picked up NIGHT WATCH and you are correct. The subs ARE stylized. I’ll have to re-check my Day Watch when I get a chance, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t have the stylized version, because I remember being reallly pissed about it.
Day Watch are NOT stylized. You can tell because the subs are below the picture (in the black bar on widescreen). On Night Watch, the subs are actually on the movie image itself. Also, when I fast forward, the subs disappear from the DW, but on NW, they remain.
I loved both Night Watch & Day Watch alot and felt they proved in terms of fantasy and as vampire movie(to the limited extent that they were) to be both original in scope and had really cool characters! But I’m sorry but not only does Timur definitly need to get on with Dusk Watch but for what it’s worth Wanted was the biggest piece of horse dung I’ve seen in ages!
hello.ya toju. Please let me take it ,DUSK WATCH. Also Final watch. I am waiting for.
I really love the first two movies I was anxiously waiting for the next movie Dusk Watch. Now it’s on hold what the H*@L I’m very pissed off that you are not making the film…Yet get your act together and get with program we want the movie now