HBO Commits to a Pilot for an Adaptation of 1970’s Classic Westworld

Steve Barton   |  

Aug 30, 2013

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As someone who grew up in the 1970’s, few movies stand out in my mind as much as Westworld, written and directed by Michael Crichton; and I’m apparently not alone as HBO, in one of its biggest commitments ever, is producing a pilot for a new series inspired by the film.

Per Deadline, the potential series hails from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot, “Person of Interest” creator Jonathan Nolan, and producer Jerry Weintraub. The Warner Bros. TV project, which has received a pilot production commitment, marks the first major cable sale for Bad Robot.

Written by Nolan and Lisa Joy (“Burn Notice”), “Westworld” is described as a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin. Nolan is set to direct the pilot, which he and Joy will executive produce with Abrams, Weintraub, and Bryan Burk. Kathy Lingg is co-executive producing, while Athena Wickam serves as a producer. Warner Bros. TV is producing with Bad Robot, Jerry Weintraub Prods., and Kilter Films.

This marks the second series inspired by 1973’s Westworld, which starred Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin, and James Brolin and introduced new digital visual techniques. The first, the short-lived 1980 drama “Beyond Westworld,” was a continuation of both Westworld and its sequel, Futureworld.

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