HBO announced yesterday that they are halting production for two months on the much-hyped new series "Westworld," though the network believes a 2016 debut is still possible. According to Variety, production was stopped to give series creators Jonathan Nolan (brother of Christopher Nolan) and Lisa Joy Nolan more time to write the scripts for the final four episodes. Originally, filming was set to conclude in November of last year, but shooting will now resume in March.
HBO released a brief statement on the decision:
"As we head into the final phase of production on Westworld, we've made the decision to take a brief hiatus in order to get ahead of the writing."
"Westworld" is based on the 1973 Michael Crichton sci-film of the same name. It focuses on an amusement park where artificially intelligent androids enable patrons to live out their inner most desires. The series has put together an impressive cast, headlined by Anthony Hopkins as the eccentric park owner, and also including Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, James Marsden, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Miranda Otto, Rodrigo Santoro, Shannon Woodward, Clifton Collins Jr., Ben Barnes, Jimmi Simpson, Angela Sarafyan and Simon Quarterman. The series will blend together the sci-fi and Western genres.
