Watchmen's latest incarnation as a limited series on HBO left critics and fans spellbound and enjoyed some impressive ratings, making it look like prime material for a second season.
But despite the love for the series, which acts as a sequel to the 1987 DC Comics series and also introduces new themes and characters, its showrunner Damon Lindelof has made a second season sound unlikely.
Speaking to ComicBook.com Lindelof confirmed that he still doesn't want to make a second run – but he is perfectly happy for somebody else to take it on.
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"It's immensely flattering to be in a position where people want more," he said, but added that "unless you've got the right idea, unless you're compelled to do it, unless you're compelled to say something new, I don't think that you should do it just because you did it once successfully."
Lindelof cited the creators of the Watchmen comic books, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, saying that "they designed the original Watchmen to be those 12 issues. They didn't really want to do any more".
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"It took 30 years to kind of justify a continuation of Watchmen. Hopefully, it won't take 30 more. I really do think that there should be more Watchmen and soon. I just don't think that I should be the one doing it unless I'm like, 'I know exactly how to do so.'"
But this doesn't mean its the end of the road for the HBO series as Lindelof is very keen for somebody else to take the reins, saying: "I would facilitate and embrace and do everything in my power to enable others to come forward and show their take on Watchmen."
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Speaking about the "great tradition in the field of comic books unlike no other where a new writer and artist basically take a run on an iconic character", he said that he was hopeful for the show's future under a new boss.
"I hope there's more Watchmen. I don't think it should be me," he said.
Now all we need is for a new showrunner to come forward to take their turn watching the Watchmen.
The series, which takes place 34 years after the events of the comics, starred Regina King, Don Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Jeremy Irons.
All episodes of Watchmen are available on Sky Catch Up and NOW TV.
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Reporter & Sub-Editor, Digital Spy Susannah is a freelance writer and sub-editor, specialising in the entertainment industry. She graduated in 2014, with a BA in English and American Literature and Creative Writing, and an MA in Creative Producing. She’s been writing for Digital Spy ever since, after first getting involved through work experience, and has written hundreds of stories for the site on a range of topics, from The Sims to Doctor Who. Susannah has also written for Reveal Magazine. Her special interests are soaps (her Mastermind subject would be 2000s Coronation Street), Marvel and Star Wars. She can also quote far too many lines from Friends and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
