Westworld fans, rejoice! The HBO sci-fi western dropped the trailer for its high anticipated upcoming third season this week. It’s been nearly two years since the commencement of season two, which saw the uprising of its AI characters against the titular Westworld Programming Division.
The trailer shows Delores (Evan Rachel Wood) at the start of her quest into the outside world. Pairing up with construction worker Caleb (Breaking Bad‘s Aaron Paul), a new member of the show’s star-studded cast, they are joined in the real world by Maeve (Thandie Newton), a recently escaped AI with a task of her own — killing Dolores. The three minute trailer also confirms the return of series regulars Jeffrey Wright as Bernard Lowe, head of the Westworld Programming Division, Tessa Thomspon as Charlotte Hale, Executive Director of the Delos Destinations Board, Luke Hemsworth as Ashley Stubbs, head of Westworld security, and Ed Harris as the Man in Black. Season three will also showcase new cast additions Vincent Cassel, Lena Waithe, Kid Cudi, Marshawn Lynch, as well as Paul.
Westworld co-creator Jonathan Nolan wanted to “find a version of dystopia that we hadn’t seen before” in the show’s third season, according to a press release. “Just because the world is corrupt inside, doesn’t mean it can’t be smothered over and pretty,” he stated, affirming that “dystopia can look pretty beautiful in the world.”
The series premiered in late 2016 to rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, leading to the production of a second season which aired in summer 2018. Considering fans have waited almost two years for its return, the trailer drop comes with much anticipation for a third season. Westworld currently holds the title of the most-watched first season of any original HBO series, beating out their other programs in the ranks of Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, and True Detective.
Based on the 1973 film of the same name directed by the late Michael Crichton, as well as its not as well received sequel, 1976’s Futureworld, the series was developed for HBO starting in 2013 from executive producers J.J. Abrams, the late Jerry Weintraub (Ocean’s Eleven), and Bryan Burk (Lost, Fringe), in addition to creators Lisa Joy (Pushing Daisies) and Nolan.
Westworld season three is set to premiere March 15, 2020 on HBO.