We've had our doubts about Zack Snyder's film of Watchmen, especially in light of the fact that had things worked out right, it could've been Paul Greengrass directing it instead. But we do have to give Snyder kudos for one decision: Snyder will be producing a complete animated version of Tales of the Black Freighter, the pirate-horror comic-within-a-comic that permeates Alan Moore's graphic novel. Gerard Butler (300) confirmed yesterday that he will voice the character of the captain.

"They’re going to do it in the style of a Japanese anime," Butler tells Empire, which we don't love but do grudgingly admit is a bold choice. Reportedly, fragments of the anime might appear in the movie, depending on how well it ends up fitting in, but the entire gruesome short will be included on the eventual Watchmen DVD.

East, across the night seas! East, borne on the naked backs of murdered men!

Gerard Butler Talks Black Freighter [Empire via The Beat]
Tales of the Black Freighter: The Reconstruction [Boredom Festival]