Exclusive: Jeremy Irons Is Older Ozymandias In The ‘Watchmen’ TV Series, Jean Smart Joins The Cast As An FBI Agent
HBO’sWatchmenhas been officially ordered to series, but that doesn’t mean there’s a lot of information out there about this mysterious project. This show, like justice, has gone hooded – its identity remains a well-kept secret.
However, a few new details have come to light. We knew that Oscar-winnerJeremy Ironshad joined the cast, but /Film has learned that he is playing none other than the older version of Adrian Veidt, aka Ozymandias, a key character from the originalWatchmencomic series. In addition, we can exclusively report thatLegionandFargostarJean Smarthas joined the cast of the show as a mysterious FBI agent.
Watchmenis being shepherded to the small screen byDamon Lindelof(Lost,The Leftovers), who previously revealed that the series won’t be an adaptation of the iconic comic, buta story set in the same universe decades later:
That time jump means a number of new characters and fresh faces, but it also means possibly catching up with some of the surviving members of the original cast. After all, the originalWatchmen(both the comic and Zack Snyder’s film adaptation) concluded with virtually every surviving character compromised, forced to keep a devastating secret or risk the end of the world.
Jeremy Irons is Adrian Veidt
Jeremy Ironsjoined theWatchmencast several months ago, when it was revealed he would be playing an “aging and imperious lord of a British manor.” We can now confirm that this aging and imperious lord is Adrian Veidt, the wealthy industrialist, genius, and former superhero (“Ozymandias”) who –spoilersfor theWatchmencomic – faked an alien invasion and killed thousands of innocent people to prevent nuclear armageddon and unite mankind against a fictional enemy. On the page, he’s one of the most complex and nuanced “villains” in comic book history, a man whose “evil scheme” exists purely to achieve world peace, sacrificing much of New York City to make it happen. He’s left alive at the end of the originalWatchmen, forced to live with his decisions and wonder if he did the right thing.
Irons is no stranger to comic book projects, having starred as Bruce Wayne’s loyal butler Alfred inBatman v Superman: Dawn of JusticeandJustice League, but he is also one of the best actors currently alive. An Oscar winner forReversal of Fortune, he has a knack for playing complex, troubled men and the role of Adrian Veidt fits him like a vigilante’s glove.
However, Ozymandias' full role in the series remains locked away. After all, early set photographs featurednewspaper headlines suggesting that Adrian Veidt has recently diedwhen the show begins. Does this mean Irons' role in the series will be relegated to flashbacks? Or has he faked his death to live and brood in secret? We shall see. One thing is certain: Ozymandias and his actions will surely loom large over this entire show.
Jean Smart is an FBI Agent With a Curious Surname
While theWatchmencast was already stacked with memorable actors, there is always room for one more. Emmy-winner Jean Smart has joined the ensemble. Smart is television royalty (she’s been nominated for eight Emmys and won three), with credits that includeFrasier,24,Fargo, and more. But she is also fresh off another ambitious superhero television show – she plays Dr. Melanie Bird on FX’s X-Men series,Legion.
So, what do we know about herWatchmencharacter? We know that Smart is playing an FBI agent tasked with tracking down vigilantes, which makes sense in a world where superheroes have been outlawed. However, it’s her character’s name that should raise the eyebrows ofWatchmenfans: Agent Blake.
One of the key characters in the originalWatchmenis Edward Blake, the violent and surprisingly complex vigilante turned government operative better known as The Comedian. It’s his death that kickstarts the plot of the original comic (he’s a major player in flashbacks) and he continues to be a presence from beyond the grave. It’s entirely possible that Jean Smart’s character name is a winking homage to this character. It’s also possible that she is somehow related to him, continuing his government work where he left off.
And let’s spitball one crazy theory: late inWatchmen, Laurie Juspeczyk (AKA Silk Spectre) learns that Edward Blake was actually her secret biological father, a truth her mother kept hidden for decades. Is it possible that Jean Smart is playing Laurie, now older and following in her father’s footsteps, even taking on his last name? Once again, we shall see.
Watchmenalso starsRegina King,Don Johnson,Tim Blake Nelson,Louis Gossett Jr.,Adelaide Clemens,Andrew Howard,Tom Mison,Frances Fisher,Jacob Ming-Trent, andYahya Abdul-Mateen IIand is expected to debut on HBO in2019.
