The shocking move tocancelthe popular, sci-fi seriesWestworldafter four seasons was a blindsiding revelation for longtime viewers. The critically acclaimed, dystopian western was integral in HBO’s success as a premier cabler. However, it ended without tying up many of the show’s loose ends that were planned for thefifth and final season. With many great science fiction works, art sometimes begins to mimic reality to the point where stories of fiction transform into predictive and forewarning narratives. At this year’s Series Mania television festival,Westworld’sco-creatorLisa Joyspoke on the series’ metamorphosis from fictional tale to real-life reflection as more advancements are made in AI, perDeadline.
“[Westworld] was science fiction when we started, and now it’s much more like a documentary film. With Chat GPT and advances in A.I., these issues are becoming more and more relevant today,” Joy stated during her keynote.
InWestworld, the story takes place within a technologically advanced world with self-aware, artificial intelligence. Before the surprise cancelation, the fifth season was in talks for development at HBO with the plan to “come full circle and return to the west,” Joy previously stated. During her talk at Series Mania, the internationally sought-after screenwriter-director noted thatWestworld’ssubject-matter has become extremely timely with the rise of AI and mentions that the show’scentral themes and philosophywill continue to be dissected through other cinematic mediums.
“These topics will continue to be explored if not in Westworld then in other series, taking [the topic] to new levels,” she mentioned exclusively to Deadline. “I think it’s an area rife with possibility.”
Related:Westworld: 10 Major Questions that Will Forever Go Unanswered
Lisa Joy Supports the Writers Guild of America as Threat of Another Strike Looms
Whispers of another writers strike in Hollywood have been circulating for months now. Thelast strikelasted 100 days from November 2007 to March 2008 and forever changed the industry’s landscape, particularly within the sphere of television. The strike, spearheaded by the Writers Guild of America (WGA), was a prescient move by the organization that worked in the favor of writers as the industry eventually transitioned away from DVD to its current streaming era.
Though many projects didn’t survive the 100-day strike, the defining moment in history was necessary for future writers and the projects they worked on. As the threat resurfaces once more, the fear of another pause in entertainment is back at the forefront. During Lisa Joy’s Series Mania keynote, she addressed the potential strike, noting that she supports the Writers’ Guild mission to “act for the collective good.”
“It’s very scary for everyone. We don’t have a social safety net in the U.S. or healthcare even so even if you get a staffer job on a show there’s no guarantee that you will get another job immediately. The Guild is working to make it possible for writers at all levels to have an easier time supporting themselves, which is incredibly important.”
