HBO’s upcoming adaptation of Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s dystopian classic could be poised to bring urgent themes of rebellion and government control back to screens.
With writer Pete Jackson attached and DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran executive producing, the series is currently in development, per Variety.
The original graphic novel first appeared in 1982 in the British anthology magazine Warrior, created during Britain’s early Thatcher era. Moore penned the story as a response to the political climate of the early 1980s, when the National Front and British National Party were gaining political traction.
Set in a near-future Britain controlled by the fascist Norsefire party, the story follows V (an anarchist in a Guy Fawkes mask) as he wages war against totalitarian control.
The graphic novel’s initial run remained incomplete until DC Comics republished and concluded the series between 1988 and 1989.
For modern audiences, some of the themes might feel uncomfortably prescient. Moore’s concerns about surveillance, propaganda, and authoritarianism mirror many concerns today.
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The 2005 film adaptation starring Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman already proved the material’s relevance, grossing over $130 million worldwide.
As Variety points out, HBO’s track record with dystopian and graphic novel adaptations suggests the company understands how to translate these stories for the small screen. Their 2019 adaptation of Moore’s Watchmen earned critical acclaim and multiple Emmy Awards. The Penguin expanded an established universe with sophisticated, dark storytelling. And then of course there’s The Last of Us.
There have been a few recent dystopian adaptations that have gone on to success. Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale received a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its first season. The show won eight Primetime Emmy Awards in its first season and became the first streaming series to win Outstanding Drama Series.
The Handmaid’s Tale also succeeded by expanding its exploration of resistance while maintaining the novel’s core critique of patriarchal authoritarianism. There’s obviously so much more time allotted to a series, giving viewers a deeper glimpse into characters and their worlds. V for Vendetta could certainly expand its world and its politics in this long-form storytelling.
HBO’s V for Vendetta faces similar opportunities. The graphic novel’s themes are rich storytelling foundations, and it’s been just long enough since the feature for new audiences to discover it. If the series can capture Moore’s exploration of violence and morality while bringing new perspectives to the IP, it could become another landmark adaptation.
