Blink (or run to the bathroom) and you might've missed HBO's reveal of the first few seconds of legit footage from Damon Lindelof's new Watchmen series, which – as you may recall – is neither a reboot or remake, but a "remix" of (and kind of a sequel to) the iconic graphic novel. As you might expect, the initial footage doesn't give us too much to go on, but it does offer a peek at the world Lindelof (who absolutely killed it with The Leftovers) has created/reimagined.
Check it out:
First things first (I'm the realest): There's someone who appears to be Jean Smart rolling up on a scene guarded by a pair of cops – both of whom seem to be sporting yellow bodysuits, Dayman-style. This is followed by a quick shot of two characters – one wearing a shiny gold mask, and the other in a red hoodie (we don't see their face). Presumably, these are new characters added to the series, which takes place in present day (or something like it). Then we watch a mysterious person in a cowboy hat walking down a prison or jail hallway flanked by more of the yellow-suited cops. Cut to: Jeremy Irons! He's reportedly playing an older version of Ozymandias, the character portrayed in Zack Snyder's film by Matthew Goode.
The last shot of the teaser features someone who appears to be Rorschach... or possibly someone related to Rorschach. It's hard to say, given Lindelof's "remix" approach to Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' original material. My bet? It's someone related to the vigilante character, who was vaporized by Dr. Manhattan in the original story. Or, at the very least, someone who has taken up the mantle in his absence. Sure, Lindelof isn't beholden to the OG story, but that makes some amount of sense.
And I know it's somewhat controversial, but given the absolute miracle that Lindelof performed with The Leftovers (not to mention his open and very zealous appreciation of Watchmen), he has my full confidence in whatever the fuck he's doing with Moore's material here – especially considering the cast, which also includes Regina King, Tim Blake Nelson, Don Johnson, Yahya-Abdul Mateen II, Frances Fisher, Adelaide Clemens, and Louis Gossett Jr. And especially with an original score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Put that shit in your pipe and smoke it, kids.