Snyder: Audiences will get 'Watchmen'

Director Zack Snyder has said he thinks mainstream audiences are ready for comic book adaptation Watchmen.

The film is based on the 1986 graphic novel by Alan Moore, which deconstructs the superhero concept.

Snyder said he believes comic book movies such as Spider-Man 3 and The Dark Knight have familiarised viewers with superhero story traditions enough to appreciate the film.

"Pop culture's ready to have their s**t shaken up a little bit. Watchmen hopefully will get under the comic book movie mythology a little bit," he said.

"I mean, my mum now knows that Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider; she has no business knowing that! So I think the knowledge is mainstream enough to get this."

Snyder also revealed that the full cut of the movie, including the 'Black Freighter' and 'Under The Hood' chapters recorded as DVD extras, will be close to four hours long.