‘Westworld’ Update: Jonathan Nolan admits ‘Blade Runner’ is an inspiration for the TV adaptation

By Angelica Mei Dollesin

Aug 12, 2015 06:41 PM EDT

The first trailer of HBO's upcoming series, "Westworld" is already circulating online and fans sci-fi fans can't help but remember "Blade Runner" while watching it. Their reactions are valid since co-creator Jonathan Nolan admits that Ridley Scott's film is an inspiration for the new TV adaptation.

"Westworld" is originally a 1973 sci-fi thriller film written and helmed by "Jurassic Park"'s Michael Crichton, which is about an amusement park filled with robot that begin killing its human visitors due to a malfunction. "early fears surrounding artificial intelligence," Wired wrote.

According to Wired, the small screen version will look deeper in to the nature of Artificial Intelligence in the park than focus on the human guests. HBO president Michael Lombardo recently hinted this plot at the Television Critics Association press tour.

"I think the visitors to the park are really not the primary focus of our show at all," Lombardo said.

He continued, "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" then added that the TV version may be a bit different to its source material.

James Marsden will star as Teddy Flood , a possible modern counterpart of Yul Brynner in the original movie. Evan Rachel Wood will also appear as a young woman named Dolores Abernathy, who will discover that her life has been a lie.

"Westworld" will also see Anthony Hopkins in his first regular TV role as Dr. Robert Ford, the one responsible for the creation of the machines in the park. 

Wired also noted that the robots in the series may be unaware that they are robots, which could be the main conflict of the TV version. Anthony Hopkins,

Business Insider reported that the recently released teaser of "Westworld" centers on Wood while a fly crawls across her face then snippets from the series where flashed quickly. Hopkins then appears and asked Dolores, "Have you ever questioned your reality?"

Fans who were able to watch the teaser cannot help but compare it to Ridley Scott's Blade Runner and co-creator Jonathan Nolan's interview with Entertainment Weekly confirmed that their opinions have basis.

Nolan admits that the 1982 classic film was an inspiration to him since he watched it over and over again as a kid due to his brother's recommendation.

"My brother's favorite movie is Blade Runner. I can't count the amount of times he's made me watch it," Nolan said.

"Westworld" is said to be the newest bet of HBO to follow the success of "Game of Thrones." The network just released its teaser which earned positive reviews for sci-fi fans.

"Westworld" is set to air on 2016.

© 2024 VCPOST, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Join the Conversation

Real Time Analytics