HBO has picked up the J.J. Abrams/Jonathan Nolan collaboration Westworld to series, which counts Anthony Hopkins among its stars.
When big names come together, you know something huge is about to happen.
J.J. Abrams of Lost and Star Trek fame will be collaborating with Interstellar‘s Jonathan Nolan on the new HBO series Westworld, adapted from the 1973 film of the same name.
HBO announced yesterday that the pilot has been picked up for a series, which means that the first season will head into production. The show is not yet guaranteed a full season pick-up, of course, but how could it not be?!
Described as, “a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin,” Westworld is set in a futuristic, adult-themed amusement park, where a robot malfunction creates terror and havoc for unsuspecting visitors.
The pilot, which was written and directed by Nolan, stars Anthony Hopkins as the inventor who runs the theme park.
The rest of the star-studded cast includes Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Miranda Otto, Rodrigo Santoro, Shannon Woodward, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Angela Sarafyan and Simon Quarterman.
Some of the actors, including James Marsden and Evan Rachel Wood, have actually been cast as the lifelike robots who populate the park. In an Orphan Black-style twist, this allows for them to play several different roles at once, be temporarily killed off, and return with completely different personalities.
HBO has released a mini Vine teaser for the project, which only increases our excitement:
Jonathan Nolan will serve as executive producer, writer and director on the series. It is produced by J.J. Abrams’ company Bad Robot Productions, along with Jerry Weintraub Productions and Kilter Films, in association with Warner Bros. Television.
Abrams himself is listed as executive producer along with Jerry Weintraub and Bryan Burk. Jonathan Nolan’s writing partner and spouse Lisa (Joy) Nolan will also serve as a writer and executive producer.
The original Westworld movie was written and directed by Michael Crichton.