HBO has decided it will now submit “Watchmen” as a limited series for awards consideration, the pay-TV channel said Friday. However, no decision has been made yet regarding renewal status.
“We discussed with the producers and felt limited series was the most accurate representation of the show and any possible future installments,” HBO said in a statement provided to TheWrap.
The critically acclaimed Damon Lindelof-created series was classified as a drama when it was submitted for consideration for the 2020 Golden Globes, where it was notably shut out, receiving no nominations from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
HBO’s reclassification decision means that the Regina King-led series and any of its actors, writers or directors that are put up for consideration at the 2020 Emmys this fall will compete in the Outstanding Limited Series categories. Of course, that’s assuming “Watchmen” doesn’t get snubbed by the Television Academy, too.
An individual with knowledge of the situation tells TheWrap the reclassification isn’t about renewal status and that HBO is still having ongoing conversations with Lindelof about the possibility of continuing the show, which performed well for the premium cable channel during its 9-episode run between October and December of last year.
“It’s really up to him; what he wants to do,” HBO programming chief Casey Bloys told TheWrap during the Television Critics Association press tour last month. “I am most interested in Damon and where he wants to put his time. So if he says he’s got an idea, that’s great. If he doesn’t want to do it, I want to do whatever he wants to do.”