Watchmen has been a bit of an interesting monster. The movie took forever to be made, going through endless incarnations, then faced a legal battle over the rights. After it finally got here, the Box Office wound up surprisingly low for such an anticipated movie. We’ve known all along the plan was to follow up the theatrical cut with several different DVD releases, but apparently that won’t be the only venue to follow up the film.

Our own Katey Rich is currently at ShoWest, where she got a chance to talk to Watchmen director Zack Snyder. Snyder has previously talked about his extended director’s cut plans for DVD, but he confirmed to Katey that the director’s cut will also make its way to theaters!

As previously announced, the director's cut will add in some material from the graphic novel that Snyder hated cutting but had to. Among the material is a bit more with the original Nite Owl, Hollis Mason, specifically the character's death, which adds some weight to the story that was lacking in the current cut.

The plan is to release the director’s cut of Watchmen into Los Angeles and New York theaters in July. Katey didn’t give more details, but she will be following up with more information later.

I’m going to assume it’ll be a limited release, but I have to be honest, even that information kind of surprises me. With as poorly as Watchmen has performed at the Box Office, the idea of a theatrical re-release of any kind is a surprising move. I’m sure the die-hard fans will make an effort to see the director’s cut, but whether that will be in the theater or waiting for the DVD will be seen.