HBO releases 'Watchmen' trailer at SDCC 2019 to mixed reactions from fans: 'Don't mess this up, HBO'
At San Diego Comic-Con 2019, HBO released the full-length trailer for Damon Lindelof's 'Watchmen'. The upcoming series is based on the DC Comics limited series of the same name created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Lindelof created and developed the series, and also serves as the executive producer and writer.
The series takes place in an alternate contemporary reality in the States, where superheroes and masked vigilantes are outlawed as a result of their violent methods. Yet, some of them gather around to start a revolution while others try to stop it.
Here is the official synopsis from HBO: "There is a vast and insidious conspiracy at play. #WatchmenHBO debuts this October. From Damon Lindelof and set in an alternate history where masked vigilantes are treated as outlaws, this drama series embraces the nostalgia of the original groundbreaking graphic novel of the same name while attempting to break new ground of its own."
The explosive trailer finally introduced fans to the person who helped the country win the war on Vietnam, Dr. Manhattan.
As we are informed in the trailer, the god-like-superhero Dr. Manhattan lives on Mars. In the trailer, Police Chief Judd Crawford says, "We convinced ourselves that they were gone, but they were just hibernating." This implies that the outlawed vigilantes will be returning to start a revolution – led by Regina King's Angela Abar.
She tells a little girl in the trailer, "There are people who believe that this world is fair and good. It's all lollipops and rainbows. We don't do lollipops and rainbows. We know those are just pretty colors that just hide what the world really is — Black and White."
An excited fan on Twitter shared, "I've finally caught up with the 'Watchmen' trailer from SDCC! Wow. It looks awesome so far! I'm very intrigued! I loved the film, and this looks right up my street."
Another fan proclaimed that the best thing about SDCC was the sneak peek through the trailer. "The 'Watchmen' trailer is the best thing to come out of #SDCC honestly cant wait to see what they do with this."
But as exciting as the trailer for 'Watchmen' is, fans do not want to see a half-baked product. "So stoked for Dr. Manhattan! Don't mess this up HBO," wrote one Twitter user.
Others wondered about the promotional strategies. "Probably the most exciting trailer during this #SDCC. Curious why is DC not promoting this enough and only HBO is doing it?" Others are still not entirely psyched by the trailer.
I honestly hope Watchmen and The Witcher are better than they were shown in the trailers. Waited so long for more Watchmen and this didn't give hope. The Witcher... is still at a "why though?". #SanDiegoComicCon2019 #SDCC #Watchmen #TheWitcher
— Jeffrey Elstone (@Jebbreh) July 20, 2019
The cast includes Regina King, Jeremy Irons, Don Johnson, Jean Smart, Tim Blake Nelson, Louis Gossett Jr., Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Hong Chau, Andrew Howard, Tom Mison, Frances Fisher, Jacob Ming-Trent, Sara Vickers, Dylan Schombing, and James Wolk. The series is set to premiere in October 2019.