'Watchmen' examines how society feels about heroes

"Watchmen" creator Damon Lindelof says the series examines how a society feels about heroes and about people who wear masks and fight crime.

With HBO's "Watchmen", Lindelof brings to life a series that embraces the nostalgia of the original graphic novel of the same name. Starring Jeremy Irons, Regina King, Don Johnson, Louis Gossett Jr. and Tim Blake Nelson, "Watchmen" explores the complexities of society while examining different real issues across time periods.

"'Watchmen' examines how we, as a society, feel about heroes most notably people who wear masks and fight crime. Our show honours the graphic novel without making it necessary to have read it in order to understand this new story," said Lindelof, who is also attached to the show as an executive producer.

The series takes place in an alternate contemporary reality in the US, where in superheroes and masked vigilantes were outlawed due to their violent methods, but some of them gather around to start a revolution while others attempt to stop it. It questions the notion of heroes and tries to connect the dots between a fictional take of real events. The show will premiere in India on Hotstar Premium on October 21.

Nicole Kassell, director and executive producer, said: "It really explores the complexities of who you are when you wear a mask, who you are when you're not wearing a mask. 'Watchmen' just grabs you and takes you on this wicked ride."

( With inputs from IANS )