Well, it’s official: HBO’s long awaited adaptation of the 1973 film Westworld is finally out this autumn, and judging by its first teaser trailer it seems as if it has added yet another smash-hit to its already stacked line-up of shows (ie. Game of Thrones, Veep, Last Week Tonight)
Set in a Western-themed amusement park populated by artificial beings (i.e. robots) created to cater to the whims and desires of all visitors, the series promises to build upon the plot of the original movie (which involved the malfunction of the park robots as they end up murdering multiple visitors of the park) to provide what looks to be a scintillating science-fiction thriller hybrid that doesn’t shy away from the wider issues of humanity and artificial consciousness. Think of this as the bastard child of Blade Runner and Unforgiven and you’ll soon get the picture.
Although brief, and admittedly light on detail, the trailer fulfils its role as the perfect tease and is guaranteed to get both fans of the original and newcomers amped for the show’s premiere with its mix of high-intensity action and mouth-watering mystery. The most likely responses drawn from viewers of this trailer will range from slight befuddlement to sheer confusion, the trailer being crafted to not give away too many plot details yet still have enough intrigue to entice viewers with the show’s fascinating premise.
It also provides plenty of eye-candy in the quite lovely form of Evan Rachel Wood and Thandie Newton, just in case you needed yet another reason to tune in. The cast itself is incredibly eclectic and also boasts the talents of high-profile actors such as Ed Harris and Sir Anthony Hopkins.
Produced by JJ Abrams and written by Jonathan Nolan (brother-of-Chris and the same man who melted our minds with 2014’s sci-fi thriller Interstellar), it is safe to say that Westworld’s inevitable twists and turns will no doubt be the water cooler talk of offices all over.
