“Who watches the watchmen?”
It’s a question that rings through the head of every comic book lover. The question was posed in Watchmen, the groundbreaking, acclaimed graphic novel from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Despite the obvious protestations that will come from Moore, Watchmen is coming to life in an entirely new HBO series from Damon Lindelof. HBO released the first trailer for Watchmen and there are very few moments that could be described as recognizable to anyone who had read the fantastic source material.
For those unaware, Watchmen is about a world in which superheroes have existed and been outlawed. Moore and Gibbon’s comic book creation is a biting satire and alternate history that examines what it means to be a hero as well as how pop culture has embraced costumed heroics. Lindelof has been clear in stating that his show will honor the source material while taking the story in new directions. And this teaser confirms that Lindelof and company are going to some uncharted territory.
The cast of Watchmen is expansive and includes recent Academy Award winner Regina King, Jeremy Irons, Don Johnson, Jean Smart, Tim Blake Nelson, Louis Gossett Jr., Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and James Wolk.
Since its publication in the ’80s, many have tried to bring Watchmen to the screen, including an aborted attempt by Terry Gilliam. In 2009, Zack Snyder succeeded with a movie that was lavishly devoted (except one big moment) to the source material. It’s a movie with its defenders and haters (I’m in the latter category). The material is so tricky that it defies conventional adaptation, and the fact that Lindelof and his collaborators are looking for new ways to bring this world to life is reason for optimism, unless, of course, your name is Alan Moore.
As of yet, there’s no premiere date for Watchmen. But a new chapter in pop culture’s ongoing superhero obsession will be unveiled this fall when HBO unleashes Watchmen.
The official synopsis for Watchmen:
Set in an alternate history where “superheroes” are treated as outlaws, this drama series from executive producer Damon Lindelof embraces the nostalgia of the original groundbreaking graphic novel of the same name while attempting to break new ground of its own.
