Despite streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime grabbing a huge chunk of the TV market, HBO has maintained itself as the leader in premium and prestigious content, with shows like Game of Thrones and Westworld. With the recently announced TV adaptation of Alan Moore’s Watchmen, the cable network intends to cement itself as the numero uno in high-quality television programming.
Here are all the casting and plot details on the upcoming Watchmen TV series:
It Won’t Be an Adaptation of the Graphic Novel
Fans of the acclaimed graphic novel and the spectacular live-action adaptation by Zack Snyder needn’t be worried about getting their beloved comic being defiled by a new adaptation. The showrunner of the Watchmen TV series, Damon Lindelof (Lost, The Leftovers) has addressed these concerns in an Instagram post, stating that:
“We have no desire to ‘adapt’ the twelve issues Mr. Moore and Mr. Gibbons created thirty years ago. Those issues are sacred ground and they will not be retread nor recreated nor reproduced not rebooted. They will, however, be remixed. Because the bass lines in those familiar tracks are just too good and we’d be fools not to sample them”
A Contemporary Set-Up With Modern Day Themes
Lindelof has stressed on the importance of making the series as an original and to resonate with modern-day political views of leaders like Trump, May, and Putin, instead of revisiting the themes that were more synchronous with those of Reagan, Thatcher, and Gorbachev.. Thus, we can expect a massive shift from the original source with new and unknown characters.
“Some of the characters will be unknown. New faces. New masks to cover them. We also intend to revisit the past century of Costumed Adventuring through a surprising, yet familiar set of eyes… and it is here where we’ll be taking our greatest risks,” said Lindelof in his letter.
A leaked photo from the sets may hint at the probability of the character of Hooded Justice being explored in more depth, as it seeks to make parallels with the vigilantism of the heroes and the Ku Klux Klan.
An illustrious cast including Jeremy Irons and Regina King
The supremely talented Jeremy Irons, who was recently seen reprising his role of Batman’s butler Alfred Pennyworth, has joined the cast of Watchmen, which will also feature Regina King (from The Leftovers) in a purported lead role.
Who will Jeremy Irons portray?
According to That Hashtag Show, Irons will be playing the role of “The Blond Man”, who is described as “highly intelligent and won’t let you forget it. Think William Hurt with slight Asperger’s. He’s used to being obeyed and always correct. Arrogant, erudite and patrician. Physically fit, he’s never missed a workout in his life.”
Based on this description, we can assume to a certain extent that it will be an older version of Adrian Veidt a.k.a Ozymandias, who was one of the original Watchmen and the main antagonist of the Watchmen comics.
The show has a stellar A+ cast and there are others who have signed on to the project:
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who will be playing a bigger role as Black Manta in the upcoming James Wan’s DC-verse movie Aquaman.
Titanic actress Frances Fisher.
Jacob Ming Trent from Superfly.
Don Johnson from Miami Vice.
Tom Mison from Sleepy Hollow.
Sara Vickers, who has starred in Endeavor, The Alienist, and The Crown.
Lindelof, who written the script, is the executive producer, along with Tom Spezialy and Joseph Iberti. Nicole Kassell has directed the pilot for the show, which is being produced for HBO by White Rabbit in association with Warner Bros Television.
Controversial Original Ending To Be Part of Canon
**Spoiler warning for those who have not watched the Watchmen movie**
If you have just seen the movies and not read the 12-comic series by Alan Moore, then hold your breath for what’s coming next. At the end of the movie by Snyder, you saw Dr. Manhattan becomes part of Ozymandias’ plan to destroy the world.
However, in the comics, an intergalactic giant squid monster destroys New York City. This ending, thankfully, was changed in the movie because it looked totally out of place, a plot line that you would normally see in some SyFy movies.
Here’s the weird, hilarious and intriguing part. The Watchmen TV show intends to keep the original giant squid ending as part of its canon and will refer to the attack being repelled successfully.
We can hardly wait for the show to come out!