We always love the chance to mention ‘Westworld’. If you are a Terminator Fan and you have not seen this movie then you’re missing out. In the original (released in 1973) classic movie Yul Brynner played The ‘Gunslinger’. The movie was a science fiction masterpiece; written and directed by Michael Crichton (also writer of Jurassic Park).
The original movie saw 2 friends visit a futuristic, adult-themed amusement park which has 3 different experiences; Medieval-world, Roman-world and West-world. The two friends decide to spend their vacation in Westworld although the two other destinations do get screen time. The 2 visitors experience a wild west lifestyle and the inhabitants of Westworld are Robots that look human and they are hooked up to a super-computer. The main aggressor is the ‘Gunslinger’ who is simply a cowboy Terminator dressed entirely in Black and looking totally badass! The movie was also parodied in an episode of ‘The Simpsons’.
Check out this nice Fan Made Trailer remake:
After Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines Arnold was actually set to make a remake of ‘Westworld’. Arnold would have played The ‘Gunslinger’ but he got the role of Governor, if he hadn’t have been successful in running for Governor then Westworld would have been made.
Now HBO have acquired rights to make a TV Show and it sounds quite interesting…
JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions, Jerry Weintraub Productions, and Kilter Films are responsible for the producing the series.
Jonathan Nolan co-wrote, also will exec-produce and will direct. Jonathan Nolan wrote screenplays for ‘The Dark Knight’ and ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ and he is the writer of the upcoming ‘Interstellar’ rumored to be the movie that the trailer of ‘Terminator: Genisys’ will be attached to.
Ed Harris (The Abyss) has joined the project to play ‘The Man in Black’ could this be The ‘Gunslinger’ renamed. It could be a homage as Yul Brynner notoriously always wore black in his personal life and in Westworld, He believed it made his life easier.
He will however play a villain. Antony Hopkins is also attached. With two great old school Actors like these the series will obviously attract some attention.
Rachel Evan Wood is also starring in this series, she was one of the Actors who tried out for the role of Sarah Connor on the casting of Terminator: Genisys. Great to hear she went straight on to get a science fiction role in something similar to Terminator. She was also in ‘True Blood’ as was Robert Patrick.
The TV Series is billed as:
“a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin.“
I just hope they do this dark but tastefully and I hope the elements that are similar to Terminator stay subtle. This should stay true to Westworld and not become what I would honestly call- tainted by Terminator. I hope the makers of this project will remember Westworld came before Terminator.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter