http://chud.com/nextraimages/zacksnyderdead1.jpgMTV News asked Zack Snyder about the Watchmen casting rumors that recently popped up on Aint It Cool News: will Patrick Wilson play Nite Owl, Keanu Reeves play Dr. Manhattan and Jude Law play Ozymandias? Snyder’s cagey.

"Um — you know what? I would say ‘No,’ but then you’d call me later and go like, ‘Dude, what are you doing?’ " Snyder said. "I don’t know who’s leaking this stuff, but they’re good."

A telling non-answer. These guys, or some of them, are obviously in talks, but most likely no final decisions have been made. Snyder did say that by hook or by crook he’d find a way to get his 300 star Gerard Butler in the movie, even though the actor’s schedule is packed.

Snyder says that he’ll be shooting in Canada this September, and that he’s currently working on the opening scene of the movie, where the Comedian is tossed out of his own window to his death. "We’re drawing and getting everything together, and I think it’s looking pretty cool," he said. "It’s gonna be awesome."

God, I hope so. I’ve been following this project for years now, and at one point felt a little close to it (hey, spend enough time on the phone with Paul Greengrass and he’ll make you feel like part of his world. It’s why he’s so good with actors). Snyder’s earned some benefit of the doubt, but this is still a massive and unpredictable undertaking.