Fancasting the Characters of HBO's Watchmen TV Show

Precious few detail are known about HBO and Damon Lindelof ’s upcomingWatchmenTV serial publication , which was recently foretell . devote that Zack Snyder already brought fans a mostly faithful movie adaption , discussion this time around has turn towhat changes could be madeto put a fresh whirl on the story this meter around - for model , setting it in the modernistic dayinstead of the 1980s . Watchmenhas always been timely , and a modern adaptation pitting superheroes against the mod political climate would provide deep , new ground for the show to plow .

We ’ve already pitchedone possible serial publication plaster bandage list , but here ’s another likely cast that would ferment considerably in a New day setting rather than the 1980 ’s . With actors ranging from former HBO stars to those whose careers have been more understated , these are a few out - of - the - box choice for the lead role of the series , as well as a few of the supporting cast members as well . Spoilers for the graphic novel below .

Michael K. Williams as Walter Kovacs a.k.a. Rorschach

Best cognize for gripping dramas such asThe Wire , Boardwalk Empire , andThe Night Of , Michael K. Williams is one of the finest actors turn today . As perhaps the most iconic protagonist inWatchmen , he ’d have one of his substantive role to date . Rorschach is less a hero and more a vigilante , predisposed to force and with a brain that ’s arduous to crack up . Williams has play plenty of anti - heroes , but none quite as unlikable as Rorschach . His intensiveness and personal magnetism would summate even more depth to the character . Of of course , the handsome challenge would be acting underneath Rorschach ’s iconic masquerade party , but Williams has establish time and again he ’s capable of not only handle challenge but absolutely knocking it out of the park . oftentimes cut by the Emmys , a bout as a complicated vigilance man could see the now genre - friendly Emmys last giving him a long - overdue award for his body of work .

David Oyelowo as Dan Dreiberg a.k.a. Nite Owl II

Dan Dreiberg is perhaps the most unspoiled - hearted character in Watchmen - not that it serves him well . The ideal casting choice for Dreiberg can alternate between nostalgia for the past and a cynical sentiment of the future , as well as sorrow as the weight of the humanity lento comes to take a breather on his shoulder . Two - time Golden Globe nominee David Oyelowo , comfortably screw for his go as Martin Luther King Jr. inSelma , is no unknown to genre employment as a voice actor , andWatchmenand the third Cloverfield plastic film would suffice as a perfect double characteristic for him to step into live - action sci - fi . He ’s also an HBO old-timer , having previously stunned audiences in the HBO filmNightingale . Oyelowo would also added some genius tycoon to the serial publication , and would be able to dextrously pilot the seemingly straightforward emotions and complex of Dreiberg , who handles much of the human drama in the seed cloth .

Joe Manganiello as Edward Blake a.k.a. The Comedian

The Comedian is a slick role to play . His action include some of the most flagitious deeds in the books . A toughened guy through and through , Blake also has to possess a tragical atmosphere as well ; after all , the serial publication starts with his murder . Joe Manganiello , who ’s now part of the DC class as Deathstroke , certainly can handle the tough hombre elements of the role . Most importantly , this would give him a chance to flex his acting chops prior to step into hisBatmanrole . Not only that , but he is a gifted comic ( pun intended ) and very sympathetic . His appealingness would pull audiences in , before he horrifies them with the role ’s brutality . Seeing a magic , bounteous , seemingly all - American man capable of true iniquity would aid shock audience and really capture the tone of the character and the intentions of Alan Moore .

Riz Ahmed as Dr. Manhattan

After Rorschach , Dr. Manhattan might be one of Watchmen ’s most iconic characters . A stoic , unagitated god , Dr. Manhattan finds himself more and more detached from humanity and the world , which is a problem yield that he serves as America ’s adult atomic deterrent . Riz Ahmed , who recently part out in a big path thanks to HBO’sThe Night Of , might seem like an unpaired choice , but his acting expressive style lends itself to a depicting of a detached god . Ahmed ’s style tends towards quiet moments where he telegraphs his emotions through his optic and torso speech , and founder that Dr. Manhattan ’s most notable section of the novel is all voiceover , Ahmed would nail it . He might need to bulk up a trivial for the part , but The Night Ofshowed that if there ’s anything he ’s capable of , it ’s physical shift .

Linda Cardenelli as Laurie Juspeczyk a.k.a. Silk Spectre II

Linda Cardenelli is the top choice across the board for the persona of Silk Spectre II , and with good reason . Cardenelli not only search the part but has the acting chops to manage Laurie ’s difficult journey . Another character who is all too human , Laurie also does most of the heavy lifting when it come to human drama in the story . Cardenelli catch her break inFreaks and Geeksbut has yet to really break out , despite delivering perhaps the most ordered performance in Netflix’sBloodlines . This role might help her break out in a big way , as Laurie is allowed to be both tough and vulnerable , and just as complicated as her male twin . It also assist that she looks the part as well , though hopefully her costume would be a bit more hardheaded than the one fag out in the comics ( and far more practical than the one worn by Malin Ackerman in the motion-picture show ) .

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Neil Patrick Harris as Adrian Veidt a.k.a. Ozymandias

The office of Ozymandias is perhaps one of the most difficult function to cast , as it requires both the trapping of a tradition supervillain - evil lair , perverted secret plan , and jazzy costumes - with a genuine desire to do the correct thing . Veidt might do a lot of bad throughout the novel but his destination is Earth peace , albeit at a terrible cost . For the role of the acrobatic anti - villain , Neil Patrick Harris could truly beam . While he ’s not as bulk up as his mirthful twin , Harris has shown he can be menacing in his own right inGone GirlandA Series of Unfortunate Events . He ’s also magic , which would serve Veidt ’s public persona well . Harris might be the wildcard choice , but roam him would show a desire to shake thing up and would absorb in more audience , as Harris is a bonafide star . It would also be a way for him to stimulate off the Barney Stinson persona once and for all .

Laura Dern as Sally Jupiter a.k.a. Silk Spectre I

Sally Jupiter , the first Silk Spectre and mother to Laurie Jupiter , is just as complex and interesting as her girl . Laura Dern , who latterly received rave review for her round in HBO’sBig Little Lies , would definitely be able to handle the voluminous interior workings of Sally , who cling to the past and the nimbus left behind . No stranger to genre work - after all she is going to be in the nextStar Warsfilm and who could forgetJurassic Park- Dern would bring in not only Sally ’s glamor to life , but also the weighting of all she has been through , as well as her guilt and regret . She and Cardenelli would work well together as a tense mother - daughter couplet as well , and the two would get some of the most powerful scenery in the serial publication ; having two gifted actress give life to these characters would make up for the picture adaptation selling them both inadequate .

Jeffrey Wright as Dr. Malcom Long

Full disclosure : this cast was inspire by Screen Rant ’s otherlist of dreamWatchmenplayers . Dr. Malcom Long might not be a primary player , but his story provides the emotional weight to one of the comics ’s most tense volumes . Long is the psychologist assigned to Rorschach in prison , and as he uncovers more and more about the vigilante ’s psyche , he finds it disturbing him on a personal and professional level . Wright is an immensely talented performer who would play lordliness and emotion to the character reference , who could well be forgettable . Another HBO vet - this clock time forBoardwalk EmpireandWestworld- Wright has a bent for crafting memorable characters who put up out from the crowd . His addition to the series would ensure that Long is as memorable as a character as the major player in the story . Besides , he and Michael K. Williams were magic facing off in Boardwalk Empire , and it ’d be a kickshaw to see them onscreen together again .

John Goodman as Bernard

Another minor character who managed to stand out from the gang , Bernard is a cantankerous Old Isle of Man who runs a newspaper stand and who develops a friendly relationship with a young man also make Bernard . With the comics being adapt into a TV series , that give Lindelof and companionship time to amplify these nonaged character , most of whom were leave alone out of the film version . While this might be a prospicient pellet , John Goodman would do well in the part , which would be small enough ( and most likely only last a season ) that it would n’t immobilize him on HBO for eld . He ’d also take a bluster to the role that would be vastly likable , which would endear audiences to Bernard which in twist would make his final fate all the more touching .

Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Young Bernard

Another small , yet meaningful , role is that of new Bernard , the teen who is befriended by the old Bernard and who , towards the climax of the film , apportion one of the most excited moments of the series with him . Despite the role ’s size , it ’s still a opportunity for a younger actor to get some placard , and Kelvin Harrison Jr. merit the fortune to stand out in an ensemble . After drawing decisive praise for his turn inIt come at Night , Harrison could well make the jump to television with a role like this , one that would most likely only last a season and that would hopefully lead to bigger and better things .