LOS ANGELES , California ( CNN ) -- Comic book fans have been waiting for years for a film to be made of `` Watchmen , '' the famed graphic novel about a group of misfit crimefighters battling a plot to eliminate their members while the world awaits nuclear war . Malin Akerman , who plays the second Silk Spectre , says `` Watchmen '' will make fans proud . Now that the film is complete and set for release Friday , the cast of the adaptation is confident the movie will meet fans ' high expectations . `` We 've heard a few comments from diehard fans where they 're just saying , 'Wow , we 're really impressed , ' `` said Malin Akerman , who plays Laurie Jupiter/Silk Spectre II in the movie . Praising director Zack Snyder , whose resume includes the highly successful `` 300 '' and `` Dawn of the Dead , '' Akerman said the film will make fans proud . `` This is just sort of a huge feat for Zack to take on . But him being a true fan , he came in with the mind of these fanboys and really kept that in mind and I think that he did a great job , '' she said . `` Watchmen '' had a long road to the screen . The original comic book series by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons came out in 1986 and 1987 and was compiled into a book . Since then it has been considered both brilliant -- it made Time magazine 's list of the 20th century 's greatest novels -- and unfilmable . Watch `` Watchmen '' stars talk about the film at its premiere » . Rights passed from studio to studio , with any number of directors attached ( including Terry Gilliam and Paul Greengrass ) , before ending up with Warner Bros. ( like CNN , a division of Time Warner ) and Snyder . A longtime fan himself , Snyder said he was determined to remain true to the book . `` Zack respected the source material so much that he knew the only way to adapt it was to hew as close to the source material as possible , '' said Snyder 's wife and producing partner , Deborah Snyder . EW : A `` Watchmen '' primer . Jackie Earle Haley , who stars in the film as Rorschach , said Snyder 's passion for the film will lead to its success among dedicated fans . `` I think the film does to the comic book film genre what [ 'Watchmen ' ] the comic book does to the comic book genre , '' Haley said . `` I think Zack captured it ... and it 's just an in-your-face , kick-butt comic book film , but it 's got that extra depth , it 's a little smarter . '' Fans of the comic book have been scrutinizing the film `` every step of the way , '' said Jeffrey Dean Morgan . But , he added , `` It 's going to blow people away even with these high frigging expectations that everybody has . '' Indeed , there have been any number of challenges . The comic book is set in an alternative 1985 in which the United States and Soviet Union are on the verge of nuclear war , so there were period details to attend to . There are some superhero accessories , such as a flying machine nicknamed Archie , as well as the character Dr. Manhattan , a blue , extremely powerful and often naked Superman type . Carla Gugino lost herself in the part of Sally Jupiter , an early female crimefighter who is the mother of Akerman 's character . That immersion -- which included age makeup for scenes in which Sally is in her 60s -- made the film easier to watch , she said . `` I look at it and do n't feel like I 'm watching myself , which then liberates you , because I am my own worst , harshest critic , '' she said . `` There was something about watching Sally older and I was like , 'Oh , that seems like a different woman ... ' and I can sort of see her for what she is . '' iReport.com : Are you excited for `` Watchmen '' ? Billy Crudup , who plays Dr. Manhattan , said seeing himself transformed with the effects of computer-generated imaging was astonishing . `` I was totally flabbergasted by the level of detail and sophistication that went into making Dr. Manhattan real , '' he said . In some cases , the actors were as excited as they expect fans to be . Morgan enjoyed delving deep into the character of Edward Blake , or The Comedian , and said the role allowed him to live his childhood dream . `` We got to play superheroes . We got to do something that I used to do when I was 12 years old , '' he said . `` This is always the guy that I wanted to be when I was 12 and I get to do it at 40 years old . '' CNN.com 's Elham Khatami contributed to this article .
`` Watchmen '' film has been anticipated since comic books in mid-'80s . Film to be released Friday ; stars are proud of finished product . Comment: ` We got to play superheroes ''