Image Credit: WireImage.com
Ed Harris is coming to series TV: The Abyss and Apollo 13 actor has signed on as the Big Bad in HBO’s Westworld reboot.
The four-time Oscar nominee’s character is called The Man in Black, and is described as “the distillation of pure villainy into one man.” He joins previously cast star — and fellow series television newcomer—Anthony Hopkins, along with Evan Rachel Wood, Jeffrey Wright, and Shannon Woodward.
The Warner Bros.-produced sci-fi pilot produced by J.J Abrams, Jerry Weintraub, and Bryan Burk updates Michael Crichton’s 1973 classic film about a theme park where androids fulfill dark human desires. Harris’ description might sound like he’s playing the Yul Brynner killer-cowboy robot role, but it seems like actor Rodrigo Santoro was tapped for that part—and online production rumors suggest The Man in Black is actually a human character who sadistically abuses the androids.
Harris will soon be seen the feature film Run All Night, starring opposite Liam Neeson and Joel Kinnaman. Harris won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Emmy for his work in HBO’s Game Change. [Reply]
Lisa Joy (IIRC) spelled it out that William was human on screen until the post credits scene, where he and 'Emily' are both hosts in the far future.
That's hard to believe considering all of the physical damage he has endured without proper medical care just in the last few episodes. And the similarity in the two scenes (Delos). [Reply]
Originally Posted by listopencil:
That's hard to believe considering all of the physical damage he has endured without proper medical care just in the last few episodes. And the similarity in the two scenes (Delos).
But then by the end in that post-script what you also realise is that in another time, something has happened, the world looks quite different, and he finds himself now the subject of the same test that he was administering before. But he's having it administered to him by a copy of the same daughter that he killed thinking she was a host.
Originally Posted by listopencil:
Yeah. As soon as I saw him digging at his right forearm I figured it just about had to be true. Here's a non spoiler: That ass on 'Hale' is legit. A bit more spoilery: If Bernard was in one of those spheres that 'Wyatt' was carrying then who were the other four? Seems like Maeve would have to be one of them given Wyatt's speech about who/what was needed for the struggle to continue.
There are several different time frames and we dont know for sure when the digging, ending post credits, him in the core or wounded on the stretcher are in that timeline. We think we do but, seems a curve ball that could be thrown into the plot next year. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BleedingRed:
Wow........... Amazing stuff, these guys have learned there lesson from LOST. Just a quality amazing stories that are unfolding. I'm juiced for Season 3
If they dont give out some payoffs and just play coy with the viewers and ending, many would have not come back for season 3. JJ Abrams was a part of both of the shows.
Lost ruined that for every series going forward. Audiences like mystery, you don't have to give us the whole mystery but its better be something substantial after 2 years or we are out. We still don't know a lot. Plenty of material to cover in season 3. They pulled this part of the series off better than most series have since Lost. [Reply]
Here's an eloquent summation of why I stick with the show, sumptuous imagination inspiring visuals and beautiful music.
The last season was a tad more convoluted that was necessary, but I stick around for the moments of beauty it can pay off.
I was hooked early on by Abernathy's complete decompensation.
The broad themes spark my imagination regarding truth, mortality and humanity.
One-off narratives like Atchetka's, or the journey to Samurai world are fulfilling.
The broad vistas are beautiful just to look at
The actors are attractive and committed.
It's not the perfect show, but there are other shows to fill other needs. Better Call Saul for coherent and well-thought-out narrative. Rick and Morty for creativity and astounding philosophical musings. GoT for world building. etc.
One thing I wanted to shoehorn in here, but simply couldn't make a connection to make it anything more than a non sequitur, but there is one moment from the next-to-last episode of this past season. Rivalling the performance of Abernathy, there was a moment of near-total decompensation by Dolores when Teddy killed himself. It went beyond grief and confusion to an apparent state of processor overload. It was one of the most unique dramatic responses to a death I can recall, occasioned by one of the most unique deaths in terms of narrative put to celluloid. ERW knocked that moment out of the park. [Reply]
The thing that concerns me going forward is the budget. One of the reasons for delay in the next season is because the producers need to learn how to make this cheaper. The $100 million a season is not bringing in enough new subscribers so HBO said cut the budget. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BigRedChief:
The thing that concerns me going forward is the budget. One of the reasons for delay in the next season is because the producers need to learn how to make this cheaper. The $100 million a season is not bringing in enough new subscribers so HBO said cut the budget.
It's not that a successful show can't bring that in, it's due to losing viewers... [Reply]
Originally Posted by Rausch:
It's not that a successful show can't bring that in, it's due to losing viewers...
HBO isn’t all about ratings. John Oliver, Bill Mahr etc. have niche audiences also have low budgets. But, if HBO spends $100 million on a series season, it had better attract new subscribers.
NetFlix spent $200 million on two series, Chicago and Marco Polo and they flopped.
Amazon is spending $1 BILLION on 5 seasons of LOTR.
The stakes and money is going to get higher and higher as everyone chases the next GOT. [Reply]
I dumped my subscription to HBO after the last season of GoT ended. Other than that and Westworld, I barely watched it. Nothing but movies I've already seen, movies I have no interest in seeing, and generally leftist original programming I have absolutely no interest in watching (you'd have to Clockwork Orange me to get to watch that limey fop Oliver). So next year when the final season of GoT comes back, I'll renew my subscription for those six weeks and during that time catch up on Westworld. And then dump it again. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Frazod:
I dumped my subscription to HBO after the last season of GoT ended. Other than that and Westworld, I barely watched it. Nothing but movies I've already seen, movies I have no interest in seeing, and generally leftist original programming I have absolutely no interest in watching (you'd have to Clockwork Orange me to get to watch that limey fop Oliver). So next year when the final season of GoT comes back, I'll renew my subscription for those six weeks and during that time catch up on Westworld. And then dump it again.