Watchmen is a 2019 American superhero limited series created by Damon Lindelof for HBO. The series is written as a sequel to the 1986 DC Comics series Watchmen, created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Its ensemble cast includes Regina King, Don Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Andrew Howard, Jacob Ming-Trent, Tom Mison, Sara Vickers, Dylan Schombing, Louis Gossett Jr. and Jeremy Irons. Jean Smart and Hong Chau joined the cast in later episodes.
Lindelof likened the television series to a "remix" of the original comic series. While the series is technically a sequel that takes place 34 years after the events of the comics within the same alternate reality, Lindelof wanted to introduce new characters and conflicts which created a new story within the Watchmen continuity, rather than creating a reboot. The series focuses on events surrounding racist violence in present-day Tulsa, Oklahoma. A white supremacist group called the Seventh Kavalry has taken up arms against the Tulsa Police Department because of perceived racial injustices, causing the police to conceal their identities with masks to prevent the Seventh Kavalry from targeting them in their homes following the "White Night". Angela Abar (portrayed by King), a detective known as Sister Night, investigates the murder of her friend and the chief of the police, Judd Crawford (Johnson), and discovers secrets regarding the situations around vigilantism.
The series, promoted by HBO as an ongoing drama series, premiered on October 20, 2019, before concluding its nine-episode run on December 15. Lindelof left his role as showrunner after the first season, stating that he had completed his intended story. HBO subsequently confirmed there are no further plans for the show to continue without Lindelof returning in some capacity, and reclassified the work as a limited series with possible future installments.
Watchmen received critical acclaim for its performances, writing, visuals, score, and expansion of the source material, as well as commendation for highlighting the 1921 Tulsa race massacre. The series received 11 awards at the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awardsthe most for any show in 2020.
Premise The series is set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2019, 34 years after the events of the comic series. In the comic's alternate history of the 20th century, vigilantes, once seen as heroes, were outlawed due to their violent methods.
In 1985, Adrian Veidt, formerly known as the vigilante Ozymandias, launched a false flag attack on New York City by creating an alien-looking squid monster which would die with a devastating psychic scream, and teleporting it into a densely occupied area, which resulted in millions in the New York area being killed, forcing nations to work together against what they believed to be a common alien threat, averting world war and a nuclear holocaust. Veidt's actions horrified his former companions, with Rorschach planning to tell the world what really happened before being vaporized by Doctor Manhattan, who then left the planet. Unbeknownst to Manhattan, Rorschach had already sent his journal detailing the events to the local newspaper.
On Christmas Eve 2016, the Seventh Kavalry, a white supremacist group inspired by Rorschach's writings and masked image, attacked the homes of 40 police officers working for the Tulsa Police Department.
Of those who survived, only two stayed with the force: Detective Angela Abar and Police Chief Judd Crawford. As the police force was rebuilt, laws were passed that required police to not disclose their profession and to protect their identities while on the job by wearing masks, which included allowing for costumed police officers.
In 2019, as Crawford's police force attempts to crack down on the Seventh Kavalry, Abar finds herself at the center of two competing plots to kidnap Doctor Manhattan, who has been working with Hooded Justice, the original masked hero and survivor of the Tulsa massacre.
Cast and characters
Main
Regina King as Angela Abar / Sister Night, a Tulsa Police detective who wears a nun's habit and a balaclava. Faithe Herman portrays a young Angela Abar. Don Johnson as Judd Crawford, the chief of the Tulsa Police. Tim Blake Nelson as Wade Tillman / Looking Glass, a Tulsa Police detective who wears a reflective mask. Phil Labes portrays a teenage Wade. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Cal Abar, Angela's husband who is revealed to be a form of Jonathan Osterman / Doctor Manhattan. Darrell Snedeger portrays Manhattan's original form in a portrait at Laurie Blake's apartment and Zak Rothera-Oxley portrays a young Jon Osterman. Andrew Howard as Red Scare, a Tulsa Police detective who wears a predominantly red outfit and speaks with a Russian accent. Jacob Ming-Trent as Panda, a Tulsa Police detective who wears a full giant panda mask. Tom Mison as Mr. Phillips, a series of male clones of the original Mr. Phillips, created by Doctor Manhattan to serve as Veidt's servants. Mison also portrays the Game Warden, a mysterious and powerful clone of the original Mr. Phillips who keeps Veidt in line and serves as his archenemy. Sara Vickers as Ms. Crookshanks, a series of female clones of the original Mrs. Crookshanks created by Doctor Manhattan to serve as Veidt's servants. Dylan Schombing as Topher Abar, Angela's and Cal's adopted son whose biological parents, the Doyles, were killed on the White Night. Louis Gossett Jr. as Will Reeves, Angela's grandfather, formerly known as Hooded Justice, the first masked hero who inspired the Minutemen. Jovan Adepo portrays a young Will Reeves. Jeremy Irons as Adrian Veidt, a former businessman and the vigilante Ozymandias, the "smartest man in the world". He is now living as an aristocratic lord of a country manor that is revealed to be on Europa. Jean Smart as Laurie Blake, formerly the second Silk Spectre, who has since become an FBI agent and member of the Anti-Vigilante Task Force. Hong Chau as Lady Trieu, the owner of Trieu Industries, a corporation that bought out Veidt Enterprises following news of his death, and later revealed to be Veidt's daughter by artificial insemination. Trieu's name is inspired by Vietnamese historical legend Lady Triệu.
Recurring
James Wolk as Joe Keene Jr., a senator and leader of the Seventh Kavalry who aims to become president. His father is responsible for the Keene Act banning masked vigilantism. Frances Fisher as Jane Crawford, Judd's wife who is a member of the Seventh Kavalry. Jessica Camacho as Pirate Jenny, a member of the Tulsa police who wears a pirate-inspired outfit Adelynn Spoon as Emma Abar, Angela and Cal's younger adopted daughter. Lily Rose Smith as Rosie Abar, Angela and Cal's older adopted daughter. Steven G. Norfleet as O. B. Williams, the late father of Will Reeves and great-grandfather of Angela Abar. Alexis Louder as Ruth Williams, the late mother of Will Reeves and great-grandmother of Angela Abar. Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Bian, a young clone of Trieu's mother passed off as her daughter. Elyse Dinh portrays Trieu's mother, the original Bian as an adult.
Guest starring Dustin Ingram as Agent Dale Petey, an FBI agent who joins Laurie in investigating a murder in Tulsa. He is secretly a vigilante known as Lube Man. Cheyenne Jackson as an actor portraying Hooded Justice on American Hero Story. Henry Louis Gates Jr. as himself, in the position of Secretary of the Treasury. Jim Beaver as Andy, the Doyle children's paternal grandfather. Lee Tergesen as Mister Shadow, a vigilante who is drawn out by Laurie Blake. David Andrews as Deputy Director Max Farragut, Laurie Blake and Dale Petey's superior. Michael Imperioli as himself, appearing in an advertisement for New York City. Chris Whitley as an actor who portrays Captain Metropolis in American Hero Story. Eileen Grubba as Cynthia Bennett, Wade's ex-wife. Paula Malcomson as Renee, a radiologist who is a member of the Seventh Kavalry. Jake McDorman as Nelson Gardner / Captain Metropolis, one of the founding members of the New Minutemen. Glenn Fleshler as Fred, a racist shopkeeper who runs afoul of Will. Danielle Deadwyler as June, Will's wife and Angela's grandmother who works as a reporter. Valeri Ross portrays an older June. Anthony Hill as Marcus Abar, the father of Angela Abar who is killed by a suicide bomber. Devyn A. Taylor as Elise Abar, the mother of Angela Abar who is killed by a suicide bomber. Ted Johnson as Joe Keene Sr., the senator who passed the Keene Act, father of Joe Keene Jr., and member of Cyclops.
Episodes
Production Development Rumors of a potential Watchmen television series adaptation first came about in October 2015, with HBO in preliminary discussions with Zack Snyder, who directed the 2009 film adaptation of the original graphic novel. HBO later confirmed that they were seeking to develop a Watchmen series in November 2015.
By June 2017, HBO had begun negotiations with Damon Lindelof, as Snyder was no longer involved with the production. According to Lindelof, he had been long interested in making a Watchmen work since he read the comic as a teenager, and had been approached to write it at least twice before, but rejected the offers as they came out shortly following Snyder's film and felt he could not improve on that. In the interim, he developed the HBO series The Leftovers that ran from 2014 to 2017. The Leftovers was met with high acclaim, and led to yet another offer to write a Watchmen series, which Lindelof then accepted.
Writing for the series started on September 19, 2017. The following day, HBO officially greenlit the production for a pilot and additional backup scripts as well. Nicole Kassell was announced as the director and executive producer for the Lindelof pilot on January 30, 2018. The pilot was filmed around June 2018 in locations around Atlanta, Georgia.
On August 17, 2018, HBO greenlit a full season of Watchmen, scheduling the premiere in 2019. Due to the time between filming the pilot and the remaining episodes, a new production crew had been brought on board, and Kassell remained the director for the second episode to provide necessary continuity. The series' premiere date, October 20, 2019, was announced on September 3, 2019.
The show's credits identify the work as based on characters co-created by Dave Gibbons, who along with Alan Moore created the Watchmen comic. Due to multiple disputes with DC Comics and the producers of previous films, Moore has asked for his name to be no longer associated with any film production of his works from that period, including for the Watchmen film. Gibbons, however, was an active contributor to the show, providing illustrations in the same style as the original comic series. Lindelof tried to reach out to Moore to get his blessing for the show, but was rebuffed. In 2022, Moore claimed Lindelof had sent him a letter that he described as "neurotic rambling", including Lindelof identifying himself as "one of the bastards currently destroying Watchmen". Moore said he replied with a request to not contact him as he did not wish to be associated with the adaptation.
Writing
Lindelof stated that his vision for the series was to be a "remix" of the comic series. While the show is a sequel to the comic, he wanted to make a story of his own that felt part of that universe without creating a reboot, and made sure that this was apparent from the first episode. He affirmed this idea in an open letter to fans posted on May 22, 2018.