HBO is in early talks with Zack Snyder to develop a “Watchmen” television series, based on the superhero comic book series from DC Comics, Variety has confirmed with the network. Snyder directed the 2009 film adaptation of “Watchmen.”
“Preliminary discussions regarding ‘Watchmen’ have occurred but we have no additional information and no deals are in place,” HBO said in a statement Thursday.
Warner Bros., which owns DC Entertainment, declined to comment, though insiders confirm the studio would be involved in the potential project.
Other than Snyder meeting with the premium cabler to discuss adapting the DC property for TV, any storyline details are being kept under wraps, and no writer or other auspices have been attached. There’s currently no word on whether the series would be a prequel, sequel or new take on “Watchmen.”
Should the project (first reported by Collider) continue, HBO’s “Watchmen” would mark Snyder’s first big foray into television.
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The director/writer/producer, who wrote and directed “Sucker Punch” and “300,” is at the helm of the upcoming “Justice League” pair of films, and will produce Gal Gadot’s big screen “Wonder Woman” in 2017 as well as Jason Momoa’s “Aquaman” in 2018. He also directed Henry Cavill’s Superman pic “Man of Steel” and is an exec producer on the hotly anticipated “Suicide Squad,” which hits theaters Aug. 5.
The 2009 “Watchmen” movie — which starred Jackie Earle Haley, Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Patrick Wilson — opened big, but sank quickly, indicating that only comic book fans ran to theaters.
