Not to be outdone by Krypton, HBO and Damon Lindelof’s Watchmen pilot has officially set sights on a production start date.
That Hashtag Show has the scoop, revealing that the small-screen rendition of Alan Moore’s iconic graphic novel – a graphic novel celebrated for its subversive take on the superhero archetype – will begin filming in March of 2018, presumably ahead of a premiere next fall.
To date, HBO has only committed to a pilot episode of Damon Lindelof’s budding reboot, but considering his impressive résume (read: Lost), we wouldn’t be too surprised if (when?) the Powers That Be order Lindelof’s Watchmen to series. Because in a realm dominated by The CW’s Arrowverse – not to mention Marvel’s Netflix lineup – a competent, adult-oriented superhero series is long overdue. Frank Castle can’t shoulder the burden on his own, even if The Punisher has been renewed for a second season.
Getting back to Watchmen, though, Lindelof believes now is as good a time as any to bring Alan Moore’s legendary graphic novel back into the mainstream.
Said he:
Watchmen was dangerous. The reason I’m doing this is because these are dangerous times and we need dangerous shows. What we think about superheroes is wrong. I’m all for Wonder Woman and Batman. I grew up on these characters. I love these characters. But we should not trust people who put on masks and say they are looking out for us. If you hide your face you are up to no good.
Who watches the Watchmen? That’s a question Damon Lindelof will hope to answer in the spring, when HBO will be on the verge of launching Westworld season 2. Providing Lindelof’s adaptation resonates with the Powers That Be, Watchmen could wind up getting a full series order within the next six months. As always, we’ll be keeping a close eye on HBO’s freshman series as it begins to coalesce.