Jeremy Irons
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SPOILER ALERT: This article contains information that MAY be SPOILERS from the upcoming HBO series ‘Watchmen’, so proceed with caution.

It’s unclear at this point, what the focus of Damon Lindelof’s new ‘Watchmen’ series for HBO is.  It is known that the TV program appears to take place after the events of the original ‘Watchmen’ story, which was first told in the 12-part comic book maxi-series by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons in 1986-87 and later adapted in the 2009 live-action movie directed by Zack Snyder.  All of the roles are being kept under wraps, but a certain prop hints that this series takes place after the original.

We recently learned that the esteemed Jeremy Irons had been cast in the film as “an aging and imperious lord of a British manor.”  However, at that time, we did not have the character’s full description.  Now that we do, it seems possible that Irons is actually playing a character from the original comic and movie… a VERY important one at that.

First, here is the complete character breakdown:

”… highly intelligent and won’t let you forget it. Think William Hurt with slight Asperger’s. He’s used to being obeyed and always correct. Arrogant, erudite and patrician. Physically fit, he’s never missed a workout in his life.”

The casting description doesn’t refer to him by name, not even a fake one.  Instead, he is referred to as the “Blond Man.”

It appears the rumors of his death may have been exaggerated.  The spoiler-y set photo revealed a newspaper whose headline reads “Veidt Officially Declared Dead.”  Veidt is obviously a reference to Adrian Veidt, the one-time superhero also known as Ozymandias, whose intricate plan to save the world involved killing millions.  In the comic, Veidt survived the end of the story, but this newspaper indicates that he has now been declared dead.  But is that a cover-up?

The description of Irons’ character, certainly sounds as though he could be playing Adrian Veidt himself, living under a new identity in England.  On a side note, it seems as though the show will incorporate the characters Mrs. Crookshanks and Bernard, the head servant and butler of the manor belonging to “the Blond Man.” Considering that most of the cast’s roles haven’t been revealed, it’s entirely possible that these roles have already been cast.

Matthew Goode played Ozymandias in the Snyder film.  Veidt is possibly the smartest man on Earth and used his intellect and vast fortune to carry out a plot to prevent the world from descending into global nuclear war.  In the comic, he faked an alien invasion in New York, which wiped out millions.  His plan worked as the nations of the world united against what they viewed as a more deadly common foe.  In the film, instead of an alien invasion, Veidt framed Dr. Manhattan for the destruction of New York.

HBO has only ordered a pilot at this point, but it looks as though Lindelof has a pretty rich concept for an ongoing series.  In addition to Irons, the cast also includes Adelaide Clemens, Frances Fisher, Louis Gossett Jr., Andrew HowardDon Johnson, Regina King, Jacob Ming-Trent, and Tim Blake Nelson.  It is believed that King’s role is the focus of the series.

Check back for more ‘Watchmen’ info as it becomes available.

Source: That Hashtag Show