Given the climate of fannish pedanticism, wherein Watchmen fans practically threaten to shave their heads about the missing squid, it was surprising to read at Collider that the director's cut edition of Watchmen will run at 3hr 10 as opposed to the 2hr 36 of the theatrical release.

Zach Snyder, in a press junket, told Collider the runtimes of the varying editions. A third version will also be available that includes the 'Tales of the Black Freighter' segment currently gearing up for its own bit of marketing spin, and this will run at 3hr 25m.

Commenting on the forthcoming DVD editions, producer Debbie Snyder said; "They’re all done because we had to finish them all at the same time. We have the 3 hour director’s cut which will be released at the first release of the DVD…which will probably be around Comic-Con of this year."

The difference in runtime between theatrical and directors cut is pretty significant. Does this mean that Watchmen theatrical is Watchmen 'lite', or that the director's cut is Watchmen 'bloated'? Given studio pressure to sell pop-corn, I'd guess the former.

Collider

• Watchmen movie review
• Zack and Debbie Snyder talk Watchmen
• The Art of the Film: Watchmen review
• Sexier, longer Watchmen may hit theatres in July
• Watchmen theatrical release about 40 minutes 'too short'?