Kassell directed two episodes of The Leftovers, which is overseen by showrunner Damon Lindelof, who is also in charge of the Watchmen project. Kassell has directed TV episodes of The Killing, The Following, The Americans and Claws. Lindelof wrote the pilot for Watchmen based on the comic series by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Kassell and Lindelof will also executive produce the pilot.

Lindelof (The Leftovers, Lost) began talks with HBO to develop the series in June (see “'Watchmen' Finally Coming to TV?”), and the project was ordered to pilot in September (see “Watchmen' Greenlit for Pilot”).