HBO used Sunday’s episode of “Game of Thrones” to draw attention for the highly anticipated new sci-fi drama “Westworld.”
Because “Game of Thrones” is fast approaching its conclusion as a series, HBO has searched frantically for a project capable of picking up the slack. Though “Westworld” endured a troubled production, its first full-length promo still has it primed to be the heir apparent to the Seven Kingdoms.
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The 10-episode first season is based on Michael Crichton’s 1973 film of the same name. Anthony Hopkins stars in his first series-regular role as an inventor who oversees an adult amusement park that features human-like androids.
“’Westworld’ is a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin,” HBO said in a statement about the show. “Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, it explores a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged.”
The network has put together an impressive collection of talent beyond Hopkins, including James Marsden, Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright and Ed Harris. Jonathan Nolan (“Person of Interest”), brother of film director Christopher Nolan, will serve as showrunner.
Given all the impressive names involved, HBO is hoping “Westworld” can help them smoothly transition into a post-“Game of Thrones” world.
“[With] the film…you were very invested in one particular group of humans that were enjoying the park and their experience with the robots. This is not that. This is very much told from the POV of the robots,” HBO’s former programming president Michael Lombardo said at TCA.
“The corporate world’s as dimensionalized as the park. And I think the visitors to the park are really not the primary focus of our show at all. So again, without giving more than that away, I think all I can say is only one character that you saw in the clip is a visitor to the park. And yeah, it resembles the film in name and in spirit and but really is, I think, otherwise not much of a reference point.”
“Westworld” will debut in October.