Everything we know about HBO’s ‘Watchmen’ so far
If you’re a huge fan of the groundbreaking comic books, you’re likely excited (if a little concerned) about HBO’s Watchmen series from Damon Lindelof. The nine-episode limited series aired in 2019 and delivered a bold, original story set in the same world as Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ classic. Lindelof’s approach proved faithful to the source’s spirit while charting its own course, and the results earned both critical praise and a lasting audience on Max.
It won’t follow Alan Moore’s original story of the comics
In a lengthy letter posted on his Instagram, Lindelof addressed all the current concerns fans have regarding what most assumed would be a straight up adaptation of Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons’ seminal book. “We have no desire to ‘adapt’ the twelve issues Mr. Moore and Mr. Gibbons created thirty years ago. Those issues are sacred ground and will not be retread nor recreated nor reproduced nor 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.” Lindelof assured fans the story will still be set in the same world but will follow a completely original story. “It has to vibrate with the seismic unpredictability of its own tectonic plates. It must ask new questions and explore the world through a fresh lens. Most importantly, it must be contemporary.” The final series matched those intentions exactly, remixing familiar elements into something unmistakably new.
But don’t worry, Lindelof can totally be trusted with this – he’s a noted Watchmen fan
In 2009, the writer sat down with Comic Book Resources to discuss the final ever issue of Watchmen. As well as revealing he read the comics in 1986 “one issue at a time”, he also revealed the comics had a tremendous impact on him as a writer too. “From the flashbacks to the nonlinear storytelling to the deeply flawed heroes, these are all elements that I try to put into everything I write.” Sure, Zack Snyder (Justice League) was also a fan and his 2009 movie – though not terrible – also missed the mark slightly. But Lindelof (Lost) seems to have an understanding of Watchmen that goes beyond the basic premise, characters, and general vibe. That understanding shaped every episode that reached the screen.
Lindelof’s approach to the show mirrors the ethos of the comics
Since its release in 1986, DC's Watchmen has remained one of the most startling and irreverent superhero stories ever written. If you’ve read the graphic novel you’ll understand that it maintains a hearty sense of skepticism regarding the point, purpose, and actions of superheroes and it sounds like that’s something Lindelof will be maintaining in his pilot, telling Vulture: “What we think about superheroes is wrong. I love the Marvel movies and . . . I’m all for Wonder Woman and Batman and I grew up on these characters, but we should not trust people who put on masks and say that they are looking out for us. If you hide your face, you are up to no good.” The completed series delivered on that promise, questioning power and identity at every turn.
Whatever story Lindelof has planned sounds like it will be a timely one
In the same interview, the writer revealed one of his most loved qualities about the book and why it forms the perfect foundations for a contemporary “remix” of the world it inhabits. “Watchmen — it was dangerous. And you can’t be dangerous for dangerous’s sake, but the reason that I’m doing this is these are dangerous times, and we need dangerous shows.” The finished show leaned into that danger by placing its story in an alternate-history Tulsa shaped by real events and present tensions.
The series earned widespread critical acclaim and multiple Emmys
Once the episodes landed, the reception was immediate and strong. The series posted a 96 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, where critics praised its bold expansion of the source material. At the 2020 Primetime Emmys it won eleven awards, the most of any series that year, including Outstanding Limited Series and top acting honors for Regina King. Those wins confirmed that Lindelof’s gamble had paid off.
Watchmen highlighted the Tulsa Race Massacre and real-world racial history
The series centers on Tulsa, Oklahoma, and folds the 1921 Race Massacre directly into character backstories and the larger plot. It also examines the legacy of masked law enforcement and the uneasy overlap between police work and vigilantism. Those choices gave the show a specific historical weight that grounded its superhero trappings in documented American events.
A number of exciting cast members have been added
Earlier this week, Variety reported that several notable cast members have been added to the production, though exact details of their characters are being kept under wraps. Regina King (Enemy of the State), Don Johnson (Django Unchained), Tim Blake Nelson (Leaves of Grass), Louis Gossett Jr. (An Officer and a Gentleman), Adelaide Clemens (The Great Gatsby), and Andrew Howard (Limitless) will all star in the HBO show with King in the lead role. The final ensemble expanded further to include Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jeremy Irons as Adrian Veidt, Jean Smart as Laurie Blake, and a roster of supporting players who brought the new characters to life.
Some interesting new characters will be explored
Some character descriptions outlined in an open casting call for the show were shared by That Hashtag Show in April, indicating the pilot might revolve around a group of Oklahoma Police Officers. Among them are a married African-American couple (the wife of which is the cop of the two), an “androgynous and lustful bisexual cop” called Pirate Jenny who is “an anarchist at heart”, a Russian “Mafioso, track suit wearing cop”, and a “good looking” cop called Looking Glass who “may be a bit of a sociopath”. Obviously, none of this has been confirmed by anyone involved in the production so take it with a pinch of salt. But as The Hashtag Show pointed out, revolving the story around cops wouldn’t be too far flung from the Watchmen story of vigilantism. Especially as the original story highlighted how many cops went on strike to protest their jobs being taken away by masked vigilantes. The finished series kept that police focus and used several of those early descriptions as the basis for its masked officers.
Nicole Kassell will direct and executive produce the pilot
Nicole Kassell has directed a number of episodes of prestigious TV shows including The Leftovers, Westworld, Better Call Saul, Claws, and Hulu’s Castle Rock. Suffice to say, we’re fairly confident she’s the right woman for the job. Her steady hand on the pilot set the visual and tonal template the rest of the season followed.
Lindelof concluded the story after one season, reclassifying it as a limited series
After the finale aired, Lindelof made clear he had told the story he set out to tell and saw no reason to continue without a strong new reason. HBO confirmed there would be no additional seasons without his involvement, and the project was officially designated a limited series. That decision kept the narrative self-contained and preserved the impact of its single run.
There’s currently no news on when the pilot will premiere
However, it’s worth noting that pre-production began on Watchmen in September 2017 and as more announcements regarding the show’s development have been slowly trickling through recently, we’re inclined to believe actual production will be taking place soon. That means the pilot has the potential to debut sometime later this year or early 2019. In the end the series premiered on October 20, 2019, and its nine episodes ran through December 15, 2019, giving viewers a complete arc in one concentrated stretch.
The series remains available on Max with enduring cultural resonance
Years later the show still streams on Max, where new viewers continue to discover it. Lindelof has noted in recent years that the themes he explored keep finding uncomfortable echoes in current events. That ongoing relevance keeps the series part of the conversation long after its original broadcast window closed.
