Early updates from the Comic Con panel for Watchmen, where director Zack Snyder is giving a little insight on the trailer that wowed us all before The Dark Knight last week. He admits that the use of the Smashing Pumpkins song “The End is the Beginning is the End” was an ironic reference to Batman and Robin, given that it’s pretty widely considered the worst superhero movie ever. Snyder says the ironic reference fits with the general attitude of The Watchmen as well.

But, sorry Billy Corgan fans—the song will likely not be used in the movie, or even featured on the soundtrack. And that’s because Zack Snyder is a historical purist! No, seriously-- The Watchmen is set in 1989, at the end of the Cold War, and the song hadn’t been released yet. I’m not sure that an alternative universe in which superheroes are enemies would have a radio station that played The Smashing Pumpkins, but I’ll let Snyder make his own rules.

There’s sure to be plenty more to come from the Watchmen panel, so keep checking for updates!

For all of our criminally complete 2008 San Diego Comic Con coverage go here.