HBO reportedly axes its planned reboot of V for Vendetta

Every once in a while, HBO decides not to be the home for another massive comic adaptation, which is exactly what’s happened with V for Vendetta. If you’ve lost track, HBO has become famous for picking up truly epic stuff—think The Sopranos, Rome, Entourage, and those long-form fantasy battles in Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Recently, they’ve been swimming around the DC universe with shows like Lanterns, not to mention Alan Moore territory with Watchmen. So it seemed only natural they’d be eyeing a full-blown V for Vendetta series next, right? Well, about that…

What Happened with HBO and V for Vendetta?

Here’s where it gets a bit awkward, frankly. Jeff Sneider, who’s fairly reliable for these sorts of industry tip-offs, reports that HBO has decided to pass on the V for Vendetta pilot that was a bit quietly announced in November 2025. This project had Pete Jackson (not the New Zealand one) heading it up, and apparently, he submitted a script that pitched the whole thing as a period piece—so, leaning right into the original comic’s 80s-set dystopia. HBO, it turns out, wasn’t keen on that angle; it’s not really where their appetite was. They’ve politely closed the door for now, but to be clear: those involved are already saying the project’s not dead, just heading back for a rewrite with, most likely, another writer taking a swing.

A Brief Detour: For the Non-Comic Crowd

If you’re not up on your Alan Moore, V for Vendetta is a ten-part graphic novel from the late 80s, written by Moore, illustrated by David Lloyd and Tony Weare. It serves up the feel-good story of a future Britain after a cataclysmic war, where what’s left of the country is run by a distinctly fascist regime. Not ideal. Evey Hammond, an ordinary woman, gets swept into the orbit of a masked vigilante known as V—yes, it’s the Guy Fawkes mask that every hacktivist group has since adopted. V becomes the face, literally, of a campaign to topple the government. High-concept, super bleak, and politically loaded in a way HBO usually loves, honestly.

Didn’t They Already Make This Into a Film?

They did, and if you’re of a certain age, you’ll be picturing Natalie Portman with a shaved head and Hugo Weaving doing Shakespearean dialogue from behind a bit of plastic. The 2006 V for Vendetta film, directed by James McTeigue and produced by the Wachowskis, took a few liberties but stuck broadly to the comic’s pitch-black heart. The film did rather well at the box office and has been steadily building a fanbase ever since—that Guy Fawkes mask is now pop culture shorthand for 'trying to stick it to the man', if nothing else.

Why This News Actually Matters Right Now

You might be wondering why HBO passing isn’t just standard telly politics. Well, here’s the twist—this comes at a slightly sticky moment for DC Studios. This project was technically meant to be an ‘Elseworlds’ title, i.e., not in the middle of whatever the current DC on-screen continuity is. But it follows a string of question marks for DC and HBO, especially since Supergirl limped along at the box office and the first couple of Lanterns trailers have left appropriately mixed feelings. Hopes are now hanging on a dramatic turnaround at San Diego Comic-Con, which, frankly, DC could use.

Meanwhile, there’s still no official green light for the somewhat baffling Jimmy Olsen spin-off show, with Jimmy Tatro set to play Gorilla Grodd. That is somehow a real thing people are pitching. So, if it all seems like HBO is being a bit gun-shy with DC adaptations at present, you’d be right. For now, V for Vendetta is back in limbo, not scrapped but waiting for someone else to have another crack at it.

V for Vendetta at a Glance

• Original graphic novel: Alan Moore (writer), David Lloyd and Tony Weare (artists), published 1988-89
• Story premise: Neo-fascist UK in the aftermath of a nuclear war, featuring anarchist anti-hero V and young protagonist Evey Hammond
• 2006 film adaptation: Directed by James McTeigue, starring Natalie Portman (Evey) and Hugo Weaving (V), produced by the Wachowskis
• 20th anniversary release: The film is coming back to cinemas on 5 November 2026—yes, Guy Fawkes Day—courtesy of Fathom Entertainment
• TV series status: HBO passed on Pete Jackson’s period-piece pilot; project’s not cancelled outright, but likely to be redeveloped with a new writer