Westworld season 2 is in the works - even if HBO hasn't renewed it yet

[ntscuser]

Jonathan Nolan and co are hammering away at future ideas



Westworld got off to a pretty huge launch last week, so it's no surprise that its creators are thinking of season two already - even if HBO hasn't actually renewed it yet.

The first season of the ambitious new sci-fi drama is currently two episodes in, and it seems the writers are hammering away on new ideas for the future of the show.

"We're currently breaking the second season," Jonathan Nolan said at New York Comic Con (via Entertainment Weekly). "I tend to have a problem stopping [my writing]."

Despite all the mystery seen so far, it seems that the show's cast - which includes Sir Anthony Hopkins and Thandie Newton - are as much in the dark as we are.

"As the performers, you only knew exactly what [the creators] let you know," said Jimmi Simpson, who plays William. "It was the perfect amount."

However, Ben Barnes was less of a fan of being kept in the dark, quipping: "I found it infuriating."

Newton further explained: "We see these episodes time and time again, and suddenly you're noticing these subtle things. You'll pick up [clues]."

Westworld is set in a Western-style theme park populated by androids that appear to be almost indistinguishable from humans.

Executive producers Jonathan and Lisa Nolan also revealed on the panel that they were influenced by video games such as BioShock and GTA 5 when making the series.

Indeed, Nolan described BioShock as "amongst the most literate and thoughtful pieces of entertainment [he's] seen in the last 10 years".

Westworld airs on HBO on Sundays at 9pm in the US, and on Sky Atlantic on Tuesdays at 9pm in the UK.

[ntscuser]

Westworld invites you back to the park as HBO orders season 2 - but you'll be waiting a while



Westworld is opening the park once again for a second season.

HBO renewed this fall's buzziest new series on Monday (November 14), and also handed out second season commissions to Sarah Jessica Parker's Divorce and the Issa Rae sitcom Insecure.

While Insecure and Divorce will both return next year, Westworld's extensive production schedule means it will either be back at the end of 2017 or early in 2018.

Westworld currently ranks as HBO's biggest first-season drama ever with its average of 11.7 million viewers, ranking above even Game of Thrones' freshman run.

"[Its return] will depend as we get up and running," HBO programming president Casey Bloys told The Hollywood Reporter. "With Westworld, because the production is such a big endeavor, I don't exactly know when [it will return] yet.

"I can't speculate other than to say it'll either be '17 or '18. Probably more like '18 and half-hours [Insecure and Divorce] in '17 but we're a year away so let's see how it goes."

Westworld co-creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy also celebrated the renewal: "We're thrilled that the saga of Westworld will continue for another season.

"During the lengthy journey to the screen, our incredibly talented actors, staff and crew became a family, and we look forward to the privilege of continuing this experience with them.

"We're also thankful to all of our amazing partners at HBO, WBTV and Bad Robot for their steadfast support, imagination and ambition. We simply couldn't have made this show anywhere else."

The duo were reported to be working on a second season storyline even before the HBO renewal.

Based on Michael Crichton's cult classic 1973 science fiction movie, Westworld takes place in an Old West theme park populated by android lawmen, roving gangs and even a self-aware madam.

Its incredible cast includes Sir Anthony Hopkins as the park's devious creator Robert Ford, Evan Rachel Wood as an increasingly self-aware 'host' and Thandie Newton as an android bent on escape.

Divorce comes from Catastrophe's Sharon Horgan, and marks Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker's TV return as a housewife struggling to make a new start.

Insecure was created by writer-star Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore, and has earned rave reviews from critics for its first season.