Series creator Damon Lindelof has made it clear how much HBO’s Watchmen draws from the original comic series, and it definitely shows, especially for fans who aren’t familiar with the source material. The TV show is obviously not the panel-specific adaptation that Zack Snyder's film was, but Watchmen movie star Patrick Wilson is actually loving the HBO series.
When a beloved comic book property gets several live-action adaptations, it’s hard not to start drawing comparisons about which one was better. However, it’s safe to say that Damon Lindelof’s Watchmen is a vastly different take that is getting more screen time to flesh out its connective tissue. Patrick Wilson, who played Nite-Owl in the 2009 movie, has no hard feelings or anything negative to say about the new HBO series. In fact, Wilson says he’s quite the fan.
I’m loving it; I’ve seen every episode. Of course, I was curious because I had such reverence and love not only for the graphic novel and film, but the experience of making the movie… I have such a warm feeling for Watchmen.
Patrick Wilson is no stranger to comic books or their live-action adaptations, having also appeared in last year’s Aquaman as the villainous Orm. And like so many other fans, the actor is surely picking up on all the comic book references, especially from Episode 5, which heavily paralleled the comic book’s own reflective fifth installment. But, it turns out that’s not the only reason Wilson watches Watchmen.
The actor told Hollywood Reporter that he gets a kick out of seeing his former Fargo co-star Jean Smart in the role of Laurie, formerly played by Malin Åkerman, the love interest opposite Patrick Wilson’s Dan Dreiberg in the Watchmen movie. (Note that Smart's Laurie takes on the surname Blake, while the film kept the comic's Laurie Jupiter intact.) In Wilson's words:
I saw Archie, my ship, as I call it. It was not drawn for me, but I take ownership. I just love watching Jean [Smart]. Obviously, I did Fargo with Jean… I can’t wait to watch her and Regina [King] go toe-to-toe.
Patrick Wilson, who can currently be seen in the upcoming film Midway, has had a long career making fan-friendly movies like Watchmen. It’s great that he has such fond memories of his days playing one of its iconic vigilantes, and that he can watch the show as a fan.
The actor isn’t the only one watching Watchmen, either. The HBO series is doing pretty well for itself in terms of Live+Same Day viewership, as well as in delayed viewing. The series is currently all the rage on HBO, especially when compared to the little-discussed His Dark Materials series, which debuted a couple of weeks ago.
Watchmen airs every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO. If you’re still behind on fall TV, be sure to check out our complete guide to every new and returning show premiering through the end of the year and play catch-up before all the midseason finales.
