Westworld TV Show: 19 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know

In case you did not know, the Westworld TV show had its premiere on HBO in the USA in 2016. Before it was released, it was one of the most anticipated TV series of that year.

To quote David Wiegand of the San Fransico Chronicle: “Westworld isn’t easy to understand at first, but you will be hooked nonetheless by unusually intelligent storytelling, powerful visuals and exceptionally nuanced performances.” I wouldn’t expect anything less from HBO, would you?

Here are 19 Interesting Westworld TV Show facts you might not know

1. Westworld is based on the 1973 film of the same name (which was written and directed by Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton.

2. The series was created by Jonathan Nolan (who was behind the Dark Knight trilogy).

3. The executive producer for the Westworld TV Show is J.J. Abrams (who has brought us TV series like Alias and Lost and directed films like Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Mission Impossible 3).

4. In the 1973 film, there were good guys (people) and bad guys (the robots). The head villain was Yul Brynner’s Gunslinger and he was the last bad guy standing. HBO has turned that one on its head and now the people are abusive and mean, and the robots are out to set things right. It’s a nice twist and will probably make the show all the more interesting.

5. Michael Crichton had been approached to write a remake of his own movie before his death in 2008, but he declined.

6. The Westworld season 1 cast brings on a plethora of amazing actors. Sir Anthony Hopkins (Dr. Robert Ford), Ed Harris (The Man in Black), Evan Rachel Wood (Dolores Abernarthy), James Marsden (Teddy Flood) appear in the series and Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Tessa Thompson, Jimmi Simpson, Rodrigo Santoro, Shannon Woodward, Ingrid BosloBerdal, Ben Barnes, Simon Quarterman, Angela Sarafyan, Luke Hemsworth, Clifton Collins Jr. and Sidse Babett Knudsen will also make appearances.

7. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the first ten episodes were produced on an estimated $100 million budget, on par with HBO’s rock drama Vinyl (which sadly got cancelled after just one season).

8. The series’ music is composed by Ramin Djawadi (also known for scoring Game of Thrones). He’s also worked with show creator Nolan on the TV series Person of Interest.

9. Quentin Tarantino was asked to helm this remake, but he declined,

10. This is not the first television adaptation based off of the movie of the same name. In 1980 a short lived series called Beyond Westworld aired on CBS, only three episodes aired before cancellation.

11. One subtle indicator of varying timelines becomes evident through the Westworld logo. In the contemporary timeframe, the “W” in the logo features straight lines, mirroring what we see in the television show’s logo. However, in the timeline of William and Logan, the Westworld “W” adopts a curvier design.

This distinction is also noticeable when Bernard descends into the sub-basement to access a computer, where the displayed logo adheres to the older, curved style. As is typical for companies, they frequently update and modify their logos and slogans over time, and this serves as a discreet clue for astute viewers.

12. Jimmi Simpson, who portrayed William, discerned his character’s genuine identity during the early stages of the series when the makeup department began transforming him into a different person. He delved into Ed Harris’s scenes, carefully observing and incorporating certain nuances from Harris’s performance.

Conversely, Ed Harris himself was not apprised of the connection between their characters until it was explicitly laid out in the script, with Jimmi’s portrayal of William having no influence on Ed’s portrayal of the Man in Black.

13. Scenes in the real world are shown in the 16:9 ratio while scenes in simulations (like the Cradle) are shown in 21:9.

14. Creators and showrunners Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy were inspired by Las Vegas as a consequence-free playground, something that’s crucial to the Westworld experience.

15. Westworld‘s main saloon is the Mariposa, which is Spanish for “butterfly.” The name is a reference to the transformation Maeve, who spends most of her time in the park at the saloon, undergoes in the first season.

16. Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy visited a car manufacturer in Germany. While there, they saw cars being dipped in and out of huge tanks of paint by robotic arms. This imagery inspired the Vitruvian man from the show’s opening credits.

17. The hosts were inspired by a car factory. While visiting a German car manufacturer, the Nolans saw the cars being dipped into and out of paint with robotic arms. This sparked the inspiration behind the Vitruvian man we see in the credits, as well as throughout the second season

18. Scenes in the real world are shown in the 16:9 ratio while scenes in simulations (like the Cradle) are shown in 21:9.

19. Westworld was cancelled after its fourth season in November 2022. The show’s ratings declined after the second season.

Well, there you have it, 19 facts about the Westworld TV show you might not have know. If you haven’t seen the trailer for the show, check it out below:

You can stream the Westworld TV show on Showmax in South Africa.

Watch this space for regular updates in the Facts category on Running Wolf’s Rant.