You may have thought season one of Westworld was a sexy, sometimes disturbing, but addictive genre-twisting journey. But just wait for season two!
The first season introduced viewers to a Wild West-themed amusement park. There, the wealthy visitors are able to entertain their wildest fantasies.
At the end of last season, we discovered that park guest William (Jimmi Simpson) is really the Man In Black in flashbacks.
“I didn’t know his wife committed suicide or that he owned the whole park,” the 67-year-old four-time Oscar nominee says. “Those would have been good things to know before episode six or seven!”
The truth about the Man In Black shocked Ed.
And now that the guests can be killed, Ed admits the stakes are much higher. But he hints his character’s new goal might come as a surprise to audiences.
“He was obviously a bad guy in the first season, because he was not at all nice to the artificial beings,” he says. “But you may see a different side to him soon.”
Meanwhile, his Westworld co-star Evan Rachel Wood promises the streets of Sweetwater will teem with action and overflow with blood when the popular sci-fi drama returns.
“We’re going from zero to 100 with so many shocking, gory surprises,” Evan tells TV WEEK. “It will make the first season look like a tea party!”
Evan reveals there’s plenty of shocking twists to come!
The American actress stars as Dolores Abernathy. Fans will recall the formerly programmed damsel-in-distress killed the theme park’s inventor, Dr Ford (Anthony Hopkins), in the debut season’s finale. Now, she returns as the leader of a full-scale revolution.
Dolores and a horde of other reactivated android hosts wage a battle for freedom.
They receive assistance from programmer Bernard (Jeffrey Wright), who’s caught in the middle between his Delos Incorporated bosses and the rebels. And brothel madam Maeve Millay (Thandie Newton) joins the fight after aborting an escape attempt.
Evan says season two of Westworld will make the first instalment “look like a tea party”.
Meanwhile, the Man In Black embarks on a mission that may lead us to other creations, including, as teased in the finale, a Japanese-inspired Samurai World.
With Dolores stepping into a badass role this season, Evan hints it could be a case of “be careful what you wish for”.
“Your loyalties will definitely shift with each character as this season goes along,” the 30-year-old says. “Dolores is given maybe the first free choice she’s ever been given in her life.
“Now, she has free will and access to her power and her memories. How she’s going to use that is what we’re going to see play out.”
Evan explains that her character is constantly at war with herself. But when she comes to power, it’s going to be “a bloody, wild ride”.
Westworld returns to Showcase on Monday, 23 April at 11am and 8.30pm.
