As part of the virtual New York Comic-Con, BBC America gave viewers a first look at the new fantasy series The Watch. Taking pieces and inspirations from Terry Pratchett's Discworld, this fantasy action series puts an unlikely cast of misfits in the difficult position of saving the world from destruction, but to do that, they have to not kill each other.
The news comes from The Nerdist, which reports on the online panel for The Watch, as well as the details for both the trailer and the release date for the series. Somewhere in a secondhand set of dimensions lies a world about to face destruction. The Watch is a team of outlaws wallowing in the back alleys of a fantasy city. These improbable heroes, consisting of different beings form fantasy lore, are forced to fight alongside each other in an effort to cancel the apocalypse. The trailer showcases a bevy of fantasy action and debauchery, all set to a punk rock soundtrack.
The Watch is based on the book City Watch from the Discworld Collection.  The panel reveals a high-caliber and diverse casting for the show which includes alumni from Game Of Thrones and The Wire. Richard Domer leads the City Watch as Captain Sam Vimes. He is accompanied by a selection of characters which includes Jo Eaton-Kent (The Romanoffs) Adam Hugill (Pennyworth) Lara Rossi (Robin Hood) and Marama Corlett (His Dark Materials). Two new cast members were announced during the panel. Paul Kaye stars opposite of Richard Dormer as Indigo Skimmer and Ralph Ineson (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) is the rock troll, Sergeant Detritus. Producers Simon Allen (The Musketeers) and Richard Stokes (Broadchurch) took part in the panel as well, revealing that City Watch takes the best parts of the entire Discworld series, and in a way, invents its own series within the world of Discworld.Â
The Watch has been somewhat controversial during its production. Discworld fans are extremely passionate, and have not been shy about voicing their concerns that the show veers too far from its inspiration. Of course, fans of book series usually are skeptical of adaptations, and are often proved wrong. One way or another, the answer to how the show stacks up to the books will be known soon enough.
The Watch airs on BBC America next January 2021.
Source: The Nerdist