HBO’s Watchmen received critical acclaim when it first premiered last fall and, now that it’s available to stream, more viewers are starting to discover the series for the first time. With so many getting hooked on the show, questions of whether or not it could return for a second season are being reignited. Creator, writer and producer Damon Lindelof has made it very clear that he has no interest in returning for a potential Season 2, and he’s now explaining why he believes a new showrunner should come in if the second season does happen.
Damon Lindelof has nothing but love for the world of Watchmen and the cast and crew he worked with. However, unless he can come up with a story that he feels is as compelling as the first season’s, he firmly believes it would be best if someone else took the reins for a second season:
Suffice it to say that I just feel like what’s best for Watchmen, this thing that I love, is for someone else to take their shot at it. I think that that’s just gonna be much more interesting than anything that I would do moving forwards. And it’s not that I take the opportunity for granted. I’ve learned that not working with actors again is stupid, so I would love to work with Carrie Coon again and I would love to work with Regina King again and Jean Smart and Tim Blake Nelson and Justin Theroux and Kevin Carroll and Jovan Adepo, who I’ve worked with twice now. These actors in the world of Watchmen. But at the same time, unless I have an idea that is as important to me as Tulsa ’21 was, then I shouldn’t do it. And I haven’t had that idea, and I want to create the space versus people waiting for me to change my mind. I want to create the space for people to come forward and say, ‘I have an idea.’
As bittersweet as his comments to Collider are, they’re completely understandable. Following Watchmen’s conclusion, Damon Lindelof stressed that he had completed the story he wanted to tell and was happy with the way things wrapped up.
With this, Lindelof simply doesn’t want to force out a story but would rather have one come to him naturally. This may come as a disappointment to some fans, but it’s ultimately a wise move. In many cases, when stories don’t come from inspiration, they don’t tend to feel as compelling or personal. And when you consider just how good Watchmen was, anything less than that would be a disappointment.
When it comes to a second season of Watchmen, the limited series’ star, Regina King, also understands Lindelof’s sentiments and isn’t too keen on returning. She did, however, confirm that she would only come back if Lindelof finds a reason to continue the story.
With the action, imagery and social relevance of Watchmen, it’s still hard to fathom that we won’t be getting more of it any time soon. But with such a great limited run that was capped off by a strong finale, it can’t be denied that it was perfectly satisfying.
Watchmen is currently available to stream on HBO Max.
