Networks don’t sit there and greenlight TV series based on superhero properties unless they see it as a potential franchise. Look at CW, for example. Building off the success of “Arrow,” the network has created this massive almost decade-long universe of series and crossovers. But for HBO and “Watchmen,” it appears that the network and series creator Damon Lindelof don’t have huge franchise ideas in mind. In fact, “Watchmen” could end up being a one-and-done series.
Speaking to Deadline at this weekend’s New York Comic-Con, Lindelof was asked what the future of “Watchmen” entails. Namely, he was questioned about how many seasons he can see the storyline he has created running for on the premium network.
“I’m not being flippant when I say that the answer is one,” revealed Lindelof. “Does that mean that there isn’t going to be anymore ‘Watchmen?’ Not necessarily. Does that mean that I will be working on subsequent seasons of ‘Watchmen?’ I don’t know is the answer to that question.”
He continued, “We designed these nine episodes to be as self-contained as the original 12 issues. We wanted to feel like there was a sense of completeness, to resolve the essential mystery at hand. Obviously, there is a potential promise for the further exploration of the world but like the seasons of ‘Leftovers’ that I did as opposed to ‘Lost,’ which was designed to have cliffhanger finales and a promise of future storytelling.
The writer-producer went on to explain that all the preparation that went into building the world of the “Watchmen” TV series, by trying to link the 1985 comic book story to the modern-day events was a huge undertaking in and of itself. This meant that there wasn’t any talk of what a sequel season might look like.
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“I feel like it was hard enough just to figure out how to do this season,” he added. “So my hope is that when this season ends that the audience will feel the same thing we did as storytellers, which is a feeling of completeness and resolution.”
Obviously, regardless of whether or not Lindelof has plans for future seasons, the decision to go past the nine episodes of this outing is all dependent on the suits at HBO. So, if fans don’t respond well to “Watchmen” this month, the end will officially be here for the Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons live-action superhero story.
“Watchmen” arrives on HBO on October 20.
