HBO programming chief talks about the future of Watchmen

All the info is coming out at this winter’s Television Critics Association press tour. We’ve already heard news His Dark Materials, Confederate, The Dark Tower and House of the Dragon. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, HBO programming president Casey Bloys also weighed in on what’s happening with Watchmen, the network’s superheroic hit from late last year.

From the mind of Damon Lindelof (The Leftovers, Lost) — and based on characters and storylines from Alan Moore’s classic 1987 graphic novel — Watchmen follows masked Police Detective Angela Abar (Regina King), aka Sister Night, as she uncovers a conspiracy with ties to white supremacy groups, the smartest man in the world, and the godlike Doctor Manhattan.

Watchmen ended on a cliffhanger of sorts, but for the most part, that first season could be viewed as a standalone series, if that’s where Lindelof and HBO decide to leave it. “Where we left it with Damon was he’s thinking about what he wants to do and I’m taking his lead on that,” Bloys said. “If he has an idea that he’s excited about, then I’m excited; if he wants to do something else, then that’s what I want to do.”

Lindelof has also discussed the future of Watchmen, wondering whether he should step aside and let others continue the show as an where each season tells a new story with different characters in the same universe a la American Horror Story or True Detective. However, Bloys doesn’t seem too keen on someone other than Lindelof helming Watchmen.

"I think Damon did a brilliant job. It is so much from his brain — obviously I know there was the underlying IP — but the reinvention and the world is so much from his brain that it’s hard to imagine somebody else doing it. Not to say it can’t be done, but right now I’m just giving Damon the time he needs to think about what he wants to do, creatively, next."

So what approach does Bloys prefer? “That’s a good question and we’re talking about that. Originally, my hope was it would have been an ongoing series, but where Damon is thinking about it, I think maybe it’s more like a Fargo, where it comes back completely different.”

"One of the nice things we learned is Damon has created this giant world. But the answer is, I don’t know. A lot of that will depend on what Damon wants to do."

And if Bloys and HBO do get Lindelof on board for another season, the show’s cast will be ready, as HBO had them sign a multiyear deal. “The one thing Damon has been clear about is he doesn’t see a continuation of this story,” said Bloys. “He has to think about it more and we have to think about, as it relates to Emmys, what the right category is so that we’re not misrepresenting where we want it to be or where it should be. A lot of that will depend on Damon’s plans for the future and what he’s thinking about.”

One thing is for sure, with Westworld season 3 coming in March, HBO is going to be on the lookout for a big-time show to fill the void after.

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