20 years on, V for Vendetta director says Alan Moore still doesn't like the adaptation because it's "not a page-by-page turn of his graphic novel"

Hugo Weaving in V for Vendetta — (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

V for Vendetta might be one of the best comic book adaptations of all time, but according to director James McTeigue nothing will convince original creator Alan Moore to give it his sign of approval.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, McTeigue addressed Moore's criticism of his 2005 film, saying: "Well, we had a discussion with Alan Moore in pre-production. He was very forthright about how he thought Hollywood stinks and that we’d make a terrible adaptation of his graphic novel. I’m a little bit like, 'Then you need to get with your reps and stop the selling of your material to Hollywood if you hate it so much.'

"I think he hides a little bit behind, 'Well, I made it for Warrior and the imprint that made the comic. Then they sold out to DC, and I had no control over it.' So he needs to Taylor Swift it up and get back the rights to his material. But, look, I can’t blame him. There were a couple of terrible adaptations that had been done previously, so I think he was feeling a little burnt. I still think he doesn’t like V because it’s not a page-by-page turn of his graphic novel."

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Adapted from Moore's graphic novel created alongside David Lloyd and Tony Weare, V for Vendetta is set in a dystopian London after a devastating world war, as a fascist government has taken control of the city. A vigilante known as V (played by Hugo Weaving in the film) uses terrorist tactics to fight the oppressors, as he discovers a new ally in a young woman named Evey (played by Natalie Portman) who he saves from the secret police.

Exploring themes ranging from freedom to authoritarianism, the story feels as relevant today as when it was first created. "We just keep falling into the same political cycles, and that’s what makes the film timeless in a way. People can just look around and see that the parallels in the film are always present in different forms," McTeigue told THR.

Mireia is a UK-based culture journalist and critic. She previously worked as Deputy Movies Editor at Digital Spy, and her work as a freelance writer has appeared in WeLoveCinema and Spanish magazines Fotogramas, Esquire, and Elle. She is also a published author, having written a book about Studio Ghibli's 'Kiki's Delivery Service' in 2023. Talking about anime and musicals is the best way to grab her attention.