A collision between two amusement parks is underway at Warner Bros. Following the cancellation of sci-fi series Westworld, the studio has returned with a reboot of the 1973 film on which the HBO show was based.
No other details were disclosed about the project, including story specifics and a release window, except that David Koepp, who wrote Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park for the big screen, has been tapped as scribe. There’s no director attached just yet, but Deadline reports that “a major filmmaker” is circling this new adaptation. How it will adapt or incorporate elements from the original movie or series also remains a mystery, though it’s safe to assume that the upcoming instalment will be a fresh take on the universe.
Written and helmed by Crichton, Westworld follows guests in a western-themed park filled with lifelike androids that begin to malfunction unexpectedly (it’s certainly no coincidence that Jurassic Park boasts a similar premise). It earned US$10 million at the box office and starred Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin, and James Brolin, while the 2016 series was led by Evan Rachel Wood, Thandiwe Newton and Jeffrey Wright. Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy served as showrunners of the four-season drama, which aired on HBO until 2022.
“Westworld isn’t your typical amusement park. Intended for rich vacationers, the futuristic park — which is looked after by robotic “hosts” — allows its visitors to live out their fantasies through artificial consciousness. No matter how illicit the fantasy may be, there are no consequences for the park’s guests, allowing for any wish to be indulged,” reads the official description for the TV adaptation.
Alongside Jurassic Park and the upcoming Westworld reboot, Koepp’s other notable credits include Mission: Impossible, Spider-Man, Black Bag, and Indiana Jones. Next on the list is Steven Spielberg’s UFO pic Disclosure Day, starring Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and Colman Domingo, and marking another reunion between Koepp and the acclaimed director.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
