After LOST and The Leftovers co-creator Damon Lindelof shared a lengthy letter with Watchmen fans about the potential HBO TV series based on the beloved comic earlier this week, some of the cast for the pilot episode ordered by HBO has been revealed.

According to reports Regina King, Don Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson, Louis Gossett Jr., Adelaide Clemens, and Andrew Howard will be starring in the first episode, which will ultimately decide whether HBO moves forward with the series or not.

In his letter to fans, Lindelof announced that the show wouldn’t be a direct adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons‘ comic, like Zack Snyder’s 2009 movie of the same name was. Instead, it will be an original story set in within the world they created.

For those who are unfamiliar with Watchmen, here’s a description of the comic and the world it’s set in:

ABOUT:

Watchmen takes place in an alternate world where the mere presence of American superheroes changed history: The US won the Vietnam War, Nixon is still president, and the cold war is in full effect. It begins with a murder-mystery before unfolding into a planet-altering conspiracy: When a retired hero is killed, his former teammates must investigate. The conspiracy they uncover will entwine their secret traumas and twisted psychologies, ultimately asking where the fine line is drawn between heroes and villains?

King is known for roles in Boyz n the Hood, Poetic Justice, Higher Learning, Friday, Jerry Maguire, and Ray, as well as more recent roles such as Southland, American Crime (which she was nominated for a Golden Globe for), and Lindelof’s The Leftovers.

Johnson is best known for his role on Miami Vice, which he won a Golden Globe for. He’s also starred in Nash Bridges, Machete, Django Unchained, Cold in July, From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, and Brawl in Cell Block 99.

Nelson has starred in O Brother Where Art Thou?, The Incredible Hulk, Lincoln, The Homesman, Fantastic Four, and Colossal. He’s also playing the title role in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, the western anthology series from the Coen brothers coming to Netflix.

Gossett Jr. is the most decorated of the group, having won an Oscar for his role in 1982’s An Officer and a Gentleman. He’s also known for Roots, JAWS 3, Enemy Mine, and Iron Eagle.

Finally, Clemens has starred in Silent Hill: Revelation, The Great Gatsby, and Rectify, while Howard’s credits include I Spit on Your Grave (2010), Limitless, Hatfields & McCoys, Taken 3, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Bates Motel.

Unfortunately—but unsurprisingly, considering it’s an original story—we don’t have any information on who exactly these actors are playing in the pilot, which will be directed by Nicole Kassell. That will have to be for another day.

[Source: Variety]

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