“Westworld” Season 3 is now in production, and HBO has confirmed that the acclaimed sci-fi Western series will return in 2020.
The news came Monday in a Deadline interview with WarnerMedia Entertainment and Direct-to-Consumer Chairman Bob Greenblatt and HBO President of Programming Casey Bloys. They also confirmed that next year will bring “Insecure” Season 4, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” Season 10, and the debut of the thriller-comedy “Run.” So far, they have not revealed the shows’ specific premiere dates.
“Westworld” was renewed for Season 3 last May, just two weeks after the Season 2 premiere. At the time, Bloys highlighted that the premium network was “so excited to see where the next chapter will take us.” Not much is known about what is coming in the third season, but the casting of Lena Waithe was reported Monday by EW.
We’ll have to be patient, especially considering the secrecy around the show. Our questions — at least some of them anyway — will be revealed when “Westworld” Season 3 debuts 2020.
There’s still no premiere date for the upcoming third season of hit HBO sci-fi series “Westworld,” but the new additions to the show’s cast suggest that it will be well worth the wait.
Entertainment Weekly reports that groundbreaking writer-actress Lena Waithe has joined the buzzy drama. But in keeping with the show’s penchant for secrecy, nothing is known about her role just yet.
Waithe has been an in-demand talent in recent years, following her history-making 2017 Emmy win for Best Comedy Writing for “Master of None.” She became the first African-American woman to take home that statuette.
Since then, she created the Showtime drama “The Chi,” serves as a writer on BET series “Boomerang,” guest-starred on an episode of “This Is Us,” recurred on Netflix series “Dear White People,” and had a role in last year’s big-budget flick “Ready Player One.” Phew.
In addition to Waithe, fellow Emmy winner Aaron Paul will also make his “Westworld” debut in season three. Like Waithe, no details have been revealed about his character, though he’s expected to be a series regular.
We still don’t know when “Westworld” is expected to return to the airwaves, though EW reports that fans will likely see new episodes sometime in 2020. Stay tuned.
Epic sci-fi series “Westworld” already has a starry, sprawling cast, and it’s adding yet another big name to its orbit for its upcoming third season.
Deadline reports that Aaron Paul will be joining the HBO show, in an undisclosed role. Though details are scant right now, Deadline’s sources say Paul will be a series regular, suggesting that his character will be a significant addition to the ensemble.
Paul is no stranger to celebrated television, having won three Emmys (and securing an additional two nominations) for his role as Jesse Pinkman on crime drama “Breaking Bad.” He also recently starred on Hulu series “The Path,” though that show was recently canceled after its third season, which wrapped earlier this year.
“Westworld” shows no signs of slowing down just yet, though, securing another boatload of Emmy nominations this year for its second season. Though the series was shut out at last year’s ceremony, perhaps the addition of Paul will sway Emmy voters to hand over some statuettes soon. (And the show may very well win some trophies this year, too, since the awards will be handed out on September 17.)
There’s no word yet on when fans can expect to see the third season of “Westworld.” Stay tuned.
HBO still has plenty of sexy shows, and even full-frontal nudity — including on “The Deuce,” “Game of Thrones” and “Westworld” — but they’ve given up on their other late-night content.
According to TheWrap, HBO has quietly removed its erotic “after dark” movies and series. The cable network used to feature adult content like “Taxicab Confessions,” “Real Sex,” “Cathouse,” and some “soft-core” feature films.
An HBO rep told TheWrap why they axed the XXX stuff:
“Over the past several years HBO has been winding down its late-night adult fare. While we’re greatly ramping up our other original program offerings, there hasn’t been a strong demand for this kind of adult programming, perhaps because it’s easily available elsewhere.”
Yeah, you can get porn anywhere. Also, over the past few years, HBO has really elevated itself in terms of quality. It is regularly the Emmys frontrunner, and that does seem like the kind of area it might want to amplify.
That said, “The Deuce” Season 2 — following the erection of the 1970s porn industry in NYC — continues with Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Franco starting Sunday, September 9 on HBO.
While “Westworld” Season 1 was roundly praised, “Westworld” Season 2 was … well, not.
There were widely praised standalone episodes, but the convoluted storylines, multiple timelines, and often frustrating character decisions confused or just bored many vocal viewers. (Stars Ed Harris and Evan Rachel Wood have talked about being confused by Season 2 as well.)
Granted, there’s no one prevailing opinion about anything. Many fans loved “Westworld” Season 2, appreciated the continued intellectual complexity, and felt they followed along just fine, thank you very much.
After fresh comments from HBO boss Casey Bloys, “Westworld” fans are now re-debating Season 2 and what it means to be a “casual viewer” of the show.
Bloys talked up all of HBO’s projects at the TCAs, and he was asked about the viewer and critical backlash to Season 2. Would Season 3 take that into account?
“I wouldn’t agree that the backlash was widespread. The people who love it really love it, even the people who dislike it feel the need to discuss it and talk about it and let you know they dislike it and debate. And for a show to arouse that kind of feeling, that’s what we want.”
HBO gave critics the first five episodes in advance, so they could watch closely and repeatedly to have recaps available right after the Sunday night airings. Bloys referenced those critic reviews as he continued:
“Most of the reviews felt that the story had been clarified. It’s not for casual viewers, it requires your attention. [Showrunners] Jonah [Nolan] and Lisa [Joy] like to challenge their viewers and many feel rewarded by that. It’s a unique show and that’s what we’re looking for.”
Many fans were quick to take issue with the idea of being called “casual viewers” if they didn’t understand or appreciate the direction of Season 2. Being called a “casual” fan of something is understood to be a slight; “Westworld” viewers already knew going in to Season 2 that it was a show that required close attention, and that was part of the appeal.
Other fans applauded Bloys’ defense because they appreciate the high bar “Westworld” sets for viewers. It rewards close and repeat viewing, and the last thing anyone wants for Season 3 is to see the show “watered down” for fans who can’t keep up.
So the debate continues — is it the fault of the show or the viewer if a season doesn’t meet individual expectations?
The 2018 Emmys gave “Westworld” 21 nominations for Season 2. “Westworld” Season 3 has yet to announce its premiere date.
Shooting “Westworld” sounds a lot like watching it: You can’t be sure of anything.
Evan Rachel Wood recently chatted with Vulture and she admitted that “it was insane to be an actor” in the second season of the hit HBO series. Part of the challenge was that episodes were filmed out of order. Given how hard it is to figure out the show’s twists and turns when you’re watching the season unfold as it’s intended to, we can imagine that it’s infinitely more difficult to try to piece together a jumbled up version of the story.
“I had no idea what was happening in season two. At all. … I don’t know how I feel about it,” Wood told Vulture. “But it was a ride.”
While that sounds intense, it worked. “Westworld” has already been renewed for Season 3, and the show’s co-creators, Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan, are hard at work on plans for the upcoming season. They’ll open a new chapter, as Joy recently discussed with New Zealand’s Stuff magazine.
“I think for every season what we try to do is tell a chapter of the story that gives you closure and then opens a door to a new chapter,” she said.
We’re excited to see where the story goes, and hopefully the cast is ready for the chaotic process of filming it.
Yet another major pop culture player is foregoing a San Diego Comic-Con panel this year, with HBO announcing that neither “Game of Thrones” nor “Westworld” will be present at the annual fan event.
In a statement, the premium cable outlet explained that the omission of its two biggest series from Comic-Con was a purely logistical choice, noting that “production schedules and air dates” for the splashy series conflicted with the July event.
Here are HBO’s remarks in full:
“Due to production schedules and air dates for Game of Thronesand Westworld, these series will not be presented at San Diego Comic-Con this summer. HBO has a longstanding relationship with SDCC, and we are very grateful for the fans’ enthusiastic response over the years. We look forward to returning in the future.”
HBO has offered a “Game of Thrones” panel every year since the show’s premiere. Skipping it now, ahead of the launch of the show’s eighth and final season in 2019, seems more than a little anti-climactic. And while “Westworld” only made its Comic-Con debut last year, it seemed by all accounts poised for another buzzy panel in 2018, following all of its season two shakeups.
Of course, HBO isn’t the only notable name that won’t be presenting a panel in Hall H this year: Marvel is also passing on that noteworthy annual event, instead simply offering fans a floor exhibit honoring 10 years of the MCU. But according to Deadline, HBO won’t even be doing that, skipping any sort of Comic-Con presence entirely (and that includes a rumored sneak peek at one of the potential “Thrones” spinoffs). Bummer.
Regardless of those glaring absences, Comic-Con will be overflowing with other offerings — more information can be found here. The event runs from July 19 through July 22.
Yet another major pop culture player is foregoing a San Diego Comic-Con panel this year, with HBO announcing that neither “Game of Thrones” nor “Westworld” will be present at the annual fan event.