HBO today has released our first proper look at the much anticipated upcoming ‘Watchmen‘ tv series.
Based on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ seminal graphic novel, the series is set in an alternate reality where superheroes exist but are treated as outlaws. The drama will not be a direct adaptation of the comic books, but a “remixed” version. According to Lindelof, the new show will use the original book as it’s “Old Testament”, but create a new, more contemporary story. The comic book “was specific to the Eighties of Reagan and Thatcher and Gorbachev,” he commented. “Ours needs to resonate with the frequency of Trump and May and Putin and the horse that he rides around on, shirtless. And speaking of Horsemen, The End of the World is off the table… which means the heroes and villains – as if the two are distinguishable – are playing for different stakes entirely.”
As you can see in the trailer, although Rorschach may not be around himself, it would appear some sort of movement has risen up in his memory, complete with black and white masks… “We are no one… We are everyone… and we are invisible…” That’s followed by a series of shots which seems to depict the return of vigilantes/heroes, as Kevin Costner’s character, who appears to be some sort of army/lawman comments “We convinced ourselves we were gone, but they were just hibernating.” Could that be the Rorschach-masked vigilantes he is talking about?
The impress cast of ‘Watchmen’, includes Jeremy Irons (‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’) who is believed to be playing Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias, Jean Smart (‘Legion’) as FBI Agent Blake, Tom Mison (‘Sleepy Hollow’), Regina King (‘The Leftovers’), Don Johnson (‘Miami Vice’), Tim Blake Nelson (‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’), Louis Gossett Jr. (‘Hap and Leonard’, ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’), Adelaide Clemens (‘Rectify’) Frances Fisher (‘Masters of Sex’), Jacob Ming-Trent (‘SuperFly’) and Andrew Howard (‘Hell on Wheels’).
We don’t yet have an air date either side of the pond for ‘Watchmen‘, but it is expected later in 2019, and we expect it will be one of those shows Sky Atlantic will simulcast with the US (although that is in no way confirmed). We will let you know when a UK premiere date lands.
