Comic book movies reign supreme when it comes to movie theatres tv (or tablets and phones
– wherever u decide to watch ur favorite tv shows).
Picturing modern cinema without superheroes seems unthinkable.
And more content is already on the way – none other than the watchmen themselves will be
rebooted with a new tv series.
But not in the way that you're all probably thinkin.
Fans of Alan Moores iconic graphic novel and zac snyders film adapation are already sceptical.
But why?
We will now to shed some light on the phenomenon that is watchmen and tell you about the new
direction of the upcoming show.
But as always i'd like to warn u guys – spoilers are coming.
Before we dive into the new series, that will already air this year on HBO we will look
back at the 1986.
A time when two men stirred up the world of superheroes with their respective works.
The first one was Frank Miller who published his „Dark Knight Returns“ epic – the
second one was Alan Moore who gave us „Watchmen“.
Both comic books dealt with broken heroes living in a world that was every bit as damaged
as they were.
These were comic books that no longer presented shiny cookie cutter characters.
They focused on edgy individuals with dark secrets.
Alan Moore brought this to a whole new level when he wrote „Watchmen“.
At that time DC had just purchased the rights to several charlton comics rights and wanted
Moore to write a story involving said characterts.
His story offed one of the main characters immediately though and soon revealed itself
to be a murder mystery.
DC was interested yet unwilling to kill of characters that they had just bought.
This is why Alan Moore and illustrator David Gibbons developed their very own characters.
They were however heavily inspired by already existing superheroes – Rohrschach for example
is a mix between Batman and The Question – a charlton comic character.
Dr. Manhattan was based on Capton Atom.
Mite Owl was based on the Blue Beetle Comics, but the character cannot deny similarities
with Batman either.
But Alan Moores „Watchmen“ does not only impress its readers with numerous characters
that break the norm when it comes to traditional super heroes, by being tortured and dark individuals.
Moores „Watchmen“ takes place in an alternate universe, that does not seem too different
from our world.
The graphic novel also refuses to tell the typical good vs evil story.
Evers single point of view is explored, time jumps occur and there is even a comic book
story within this comic book.
And every chapter of this 12 issue series has additional bonus material, which adds
more to the characters and the world they live in.
It should also be noted that it was not merely Alan Moore – who turned „Watchmen“ into
a phenomenon.
The illustations by David Gibbons are every bit as important.
Moores original idea was to develop a „super hero moby dick“.
And he was more than successful.
After all „Watchmen“ remains the only comic book to be on the times list of the
100 best novels since 1923.
Critics and readers praised „Watchmen“ from the start making it a huge success.
Alan Moore himself was not satisfied.
He intended to influence other comic book authors with „watchmen“ but felt that
most of them used the character of Rohrschach in order to tell many more new violent superhero
stories.
But contrary to Moores critique one must admit: „Watchmen“ paved the way for more risk
taking when it comes to characters and story telling.
The success of the comic of course made hollywood curious and a film adaptation was discussed
ever since watchmen was first published.
Names like Terry Gilliam, Tim Burton or later Daren Aronofsky and Paul Green Grass were
in talks to helm the project.
But even back then Terry Gilliam called the source material unadaptable.
This seems to hold true until 2009 when Zack Snyder seemingly made the impossible possible.
„Watchmen“ hit theatres – without the blessing of Alam Moore though.
Now 10 years after the movies' release an HBO show will come to the small screens.
Showrunner Damon Lindelof who is famous for his work on „LOST and The Leftovers“ is
currently working on the first season which will be released this year.
Even back in 2015 HBO approached Zack Snyder to talk discuss this project.
2017 Lindelof, who describes himself as a huge Watchmen Fan was hired instead.
He stated that he does not intend to simply adapt Alan Moores graphic novel.
In May 2018 he published a five page letter directed at the fans.
In it he confirmed that the comic books are holy to him.
Nothing shall be rebooted or remade.
Lindelof instead views his approach as a remix.
He used the bible as am example – comparing Moores and Gibbons work as the old testament
and his new show as the new testament within the world of watchmen, That means the comic
books are canon and the show will develop them further.
However the series is not intended to be a simple sequel either... after all these do
exist in the form of the comic series „Doomsday Clock“.
No Lindelof means to create something similar to the original comics yet something different.
This means we will probably not see too many of the original characters, They will probably
all be mentioned though.
Lindelof wants to bring Watchmen to modern times.
According to him the main themes of the comic books were the political scope of the cold
war, Reagan and Gorbatschow.
The new show is supposed to adress the political scope in our world, and will probably even
adress Trump and Putin.
A second flashback timeline is also set to be part of the show (something that Lindelof
mastered to perfection when he made lost).
These flashbacks will explore the past of the watchmen.
A lot of the cast members have already been confirmed.
We do however not no all of the roles they are going to play.
Jeremy Irons has been confirmed as Adrian Veidt.
„Miami Vice“ icon Don Johnson also joined the vast.
It is rumored that he will portray another one of the original charaters.
Also joining the cast are „The Leftovers“ Regina King, Louis Gosset Jr.Adelaide Clemens
and Tim Blake Nelson.
Are you lookin forward to Watchmen?
Let us know in the comment section below!
And for more original content check out these videos!