Movies - TV
Why Watchmen Writer Alan Moore Isn't A Fan Of The HBO Sequel Series
By TYLER LLEWYN TAING
Alan Moore is one of the greatest comic book writers of all time, releasing such memorable works like “V for Vendetta,” “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen,” and his masterpiece, “The Watchmen.” However, Moore is one of the medium’s most cynical critics, often at odds with Hollywood and the comics industry for their mishandling of his work.
In 2019, HBO released a “Watchmen” series that served as a sequel to Moore’s graphic novel, though the author wasn’t impressed and refused to watch it. Moore was only alerted to its production when creator Damon Lindelof sent him a letter, to which he replied, “I don’t want anything to do with you or your show. Please don’t bother me again.”
While the show won 11 awards and tackled topics like generational racial trauma and the corruptive force of authority, Moore was still dismissive. He thought, “Oh, god, perhaps a large part of the public, this is what they think ‘Watchmen’ was?’ They think that it was a dark, gritty, dystopian superhero franchise that was something to do with white supremacism.”
Despite the praise and accolades, HBO’s “Watchmen” is one of the most radical adaptations of the author’s work. The show’s previews may have made the series look too glamorous for his liking, but whatever the reason is, Moore has every right to be hypercritical about any adaptations of his work and their interpretations of his vision.