Alan Moore is known for his great ability to formulate comics with deep and adult themes, but after that he is known above all for having created Watchmen. That graphic novel is revered by those addicted to the comic pages, and by almost everyone who has had enough interest to read it. Therefore, it is logical that the creators of the series wanted to establish a contact, something that he adamantly prevented.
In an interview with GQ, the author commented on his disdain for the television series. He even revealed that it was a surprise to him that the show won such acclaim from the industry, when it was established to him from the start that they would destroy his work. Beyond the details of the adaptation, though, what really pissed Moore off was the way the creatives approached him in the first place.
Moore said that in the first instance he does not like to sit down and watch adaptations of his work. But that the straw that broke the camel’s back was a letter he received from Damon Lindelof, the showrunner of Watchmen.
“The letter, I think it began with: ‘Dear Mr. Moore, I am one of the bastards who are destroying Watchmen‘. That was not the best start,” she said. “I would go on with a lot of, what seemed to me, neurotic ramblings. ‘Can you at least tell us how to pronounce Ozymandias?’ [uno de los personajes justicieros de Watchmen]. I then sent a very brusque and probably hostile reply saying that I thought Warner Bros. was aware that they, nor any of their employees, should contact me again for any reason.”
Alan Moore not only repudiated the adaptation of Watchmen, but in general, he considers that the film industry has done abominable things with his works. Reason why he prefers not to be associated with them, despite the fact that the public alone already does.
“The film and comics industry seemed to have created things that had nothing to do with my work, but were associated with it in the public mind,” he continued. “I said, ‘Look, this is embarrassing for me. I don’t want anything to do with you or your show. Please don’t bother me again.’”
The subsequent surprise for Moore was when Watchmen had high audience levels. But especially when she managed to take home seven Emmy Awards; one for Best Limited Series and one for Regina King’s performance.
“When I saw that Watchmen had apparently won, I thought, “Oh, God, maybe a large part of the public, this is what they think Watchmen was?” They think it was a dark, gritty, dystopian superhero franchise that had something to do with white supremacy. didn’t they understand Watchmen? Watchmen it was almost 40 years ago and it was relatively simple compared to a lot of my later work. What are the chances that they have understood anything since then? This tends to make him feel less fond of those works. They mean a little less in my heart.”
Series creator Damon Lindelof hasn’t made it clear if his series will get a second season. He is a showrunner almost as capricious as the author of the source material. He stated that given the right inspiration and a real opportunity, a sequel could probably be envisioned.
Watchmen it also received a film adaptation from Zack Snyder. Except for certain details or some suppressed narrative lines, that film was much more faithful to the graphic novel. Frame by frame, the film accurately recreated the most iconic moments from the primary source and is considered by fans to be one of the best adaptations ever made.
Both adaptations of Watchmen are available on HBO Max.
Luis Angel H Mora My Hogwarts letter never came, so I focused my life on movies. I like to write, Harry Potter, Doctor Who and parties where I wear an astrologer. John Williams and The Killers musicalize the drama of my life.
