V for Vendetta TV Series in Development at HBO from James Gunn & Peter Safran

DC Studios brings the Guy Fawkes mask to television: V for Vendetta is now being adapted as an HBO series after a film. James Gunn and Peter Safran produce the new version of Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s dystopian classic.

HBO brings anarchist cult comic to TV

One of the most famous and respected graphic novels is coming to the screens again: V for Vendetta is being made into a series on HBO. DC Studios bosses James Gunn (“Guardians of the Galaxy”) and Peter Safran serve as executive producers on the new version, based on Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s 1980s dystopian masterpiece. Pete Jackson, known for the Channel 4 series “Somewhere Boy”, is taking over the script.

The British author already has experience with literary adaptations – his upcoming series “The Death of Bunny Munro” is based on Nick Cave’s novel of the same name. Jackson was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for Best Screenplay in 2022, underlining his expertise in complex material. How variety reports, the series joins HBO’s successful DC division. After the Emmy-winning “The Penguin” with Colin Farrell, “Lanterns” with Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre will follow in 2026. Back in 2019, HBO proved with Damon Lindelof’s “Watchmen” sequel that Moore adaptations can be successful. V for Vendetta: German trailer for the 2005 film

Timeless story with current relevance

The original story is set in a dystopian 1990s Britain, where the fascist Norsefire party has seized power after a nuclear war. The masked anarchist V fights against the regime with his ally Evey Hammond. The 2005 film adaptation starring Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman grossed over $130 million (around €113 million) and will return to cinemas in 2026 for its 20th anniversary.

The pop culture consequences can still be seen today: illustrator David Lloyd developed the iconic Guy Fawkes mask design, which is now known worldwide as a protest symbol. Since its release, hundreds of thousands of Guy Fawkes masks have been sold annually, with Warner Bros. Discovery as the rights holder earning money from each official mask.

Retelling or sequel?

It is still unclear whether the HBO series will retell the original story or develop a sequel like “Watchmen”. The original offers plenty of material for a profound series adaptation, as Moore and Lloyd created a multi-layered world with complex political and philosophical themes. Moore himself has been critical of film adaptations of his works in the past and also distanced himself from the 2005 cinema adaptation. The British author prefers the comic medium and is skeptical about adaptations. Still, projects like Watchmen (also by Moore) have shown that respectful extensions of the original material can certainly work.