Bad Robot/Jonathan Nolan Bringing "Westworld" to HBO - Part 1

[squeekness]

I'm not entirely shocked as the show kinda wandered too much once the real world was introduced.

 

[Closerframe]

That's both subjective and irrelevant to my argument. I was replying to your "newer content" comment.

There’s absolutely no proof we’re just gonna get spin-offs to GoT. Just because Discovery is mainly canceling shows that happened to be mostly originals, doesn’t mean they won’t make originals in the future. I can almost guarantee The Last of Us will be a successful show and that’s not based on an existing movie/tv show.

 

[Filmfreak]

There’s absolutely no proof we’re just gonna get spin-offs to GoT. Just because Discovery is mainly canceling shows that happened to be mostly originals, doesn’t mean they won’t make originals in the future. I can almost guarantee The Last of Us will be a successful show and that’s not based on an existing movie/tv show.

Zazlav is always mentioning Game of Thrones, DC and Harry Potter as the future of the company. The fact that House of the Dragon did great and they're already developing multiple more spin-off tells you all there is to say about the matter.

I could argue that The Last of Us is already a beloved franchise outside the film and TV industry, so it's more of a safe bet than something that is literally build from scratch (like their recently canceled Demimonde show), but the fact is even The Last of Us went into production while the previous regime was in charge. I'm sure if it does well they'll try to milk it too, but I don't know if it would have been greenlit now. I guess the writing's on the wall, but I'm convinced we'll see fewer and fewer shows that are not a success for Zaz.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

There’s absolutely no proof we’re just gonna get spin-offs to GoT. Just because Discovery is mainly canceling shows that happened to be mostly originals, doesn’t mean they won’t make originals in the future. I can almost guarantee The Last of Us will be a successful show and that’s not based on an existing movie/tv show.

But it is an existing IP. It's a remake of a video game.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I'm not entirely shocked as the show kinda wandered too much once the real world was introduced.

Wandered from what exactly?

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I mean House of the Dragon has been better than the last three seasons of Westworld.

It really hasn't.

 

[Sithborg]

I think looking at this decision beyond Zaslav doing what he can to torch that JJ deal is a mistake.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Season 4 of WW was awesome. While I agree season 3 fell off in the back end a bit, what made the show so great was that it actually evolved and changed like the characters. It was a legit effort to do something different each and every season.

 

[squeekness]

Wandered from what exactly?

To me it was less of a slog while they were trying to escape the park, but once they got out it was like the show wasn't sure what it wanted to be and where it wanted to go. I didn't enjoy it as much.

 

[Closerframe]

But it is an existing IP. It's a remake of a video game.

Westworld was based off of an existing IP as well, but it was still considered “original” by comparison to be associated with a big franchise.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

To me it was less of a slog while they were trying to escape the park, but once they got out it was like the show wasn't sure what it wanted to be and where it wanted to go. I didn't enjoy it as much.

I mean the show was never about escaping the park. It's always been a show about the evolution of sentient life through AI. Would they prove to be better then their creators, or simply fall into same trap we did. That's why I am curious why you said it wandered, because that's what it's explored each and every season. I can totally get not enjoying it, but I don't think the show ever wandered from it's mission statement. I do think a lot of people jumped on because of the surface fun of the park stuff, which I agree was a ton of fun. But I much preferred the natural evolution of the Host uprising, into their own conflict on what life would be going forward.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Westworld was based off of an existing IP as well, but it was still considered “original” by comparison to be associated with a big franchise.

The existing IP is much older, and very different then what Nolan and Joy brought with WW. The Last of Us show is the game, again. One they just re-released on the PS5 in September.

 

[Lily Adler]

The existing IP is much older, and very different then what Nolan and Joy brought with WW. The Last of Us show is the game, again. One they just re-released on the PS5 in September.

Side note: I'd imagined The Last of Us would fall for the same pacing issues like TWD had it not been a miniseries.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Side note: I'd imagined The Last of Us would fall for the same pacing issues like TWD had it not been a miniseries.

It's going to have a lot of issues imo. Namely, simply trying to recapture something in live action, that was so entwined with what makes a video game a video game.

 

[green]

Well this sucks.

 

[flickchick85]

Ugh, I really thought they'd let them finish out their 5-season plan. But then, that was the way of the HBO of Old. We're in the "F*** Storytelling" Era now.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Ugh, I really thought they'd let them finish out their 5-season plan. But then, that was the way of the HBO of Old. We're in the "F*** Storytelling" Era now.

My bro had to give me a Switch to cure this pain.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

Season 1 was awesome and Season 2 was ok. 3 just went off the deep end and I haven't finished 4. It went from a thriller that critiqued humans and the elite, our lack of respect for the power of technology (things Michael Crichton loved to talk about), to something resembling Blade Runner.

It didn't work for me though I can see WHY it would head in that direction.

 

[super85]

First season was good. Then it became dog ****. Not surprising it was cancelled.

 

[Drizzle]

The more I think about it, there's no reason why they couldn't have just cut the budget by shortening a fifth season to six episodes or less, or hell, even just a movie.

It's going to have a lot of issues imo. Namely, simply trying to recapture something in live action, that was so entwined with what makes a video game a video game.

I'm not worried about TLOU, especially with Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin at the helm along with a solid cast in place. Yeah, you lose the gameplay elements but TLOU is one of those rare games where the story is as great as the gameplay, if not better. It's because of that which gives it a big leg up creatively over every video game adaptation that's come before it. It's not like it was a high bar to cross but I think the show is about to trample all over that bar. I'll be eating some crow sadly in the corner otherwise.

 

[Albright]

Hey instead we‘rd getting thousands of Harry Potter and GoT Spinoffs now…

 

[henzINNIT]

Always a shame when a show can't end on its own terms, but considering how much support had dropped I can't say I'm surprised. I'm not overly saddened myself either.

I mean the show was never about escaping the park. It's always been a show about the evolution of sentient life through AI. Would they prove to be better then their creators, or simply fall into same trap we did. That's why I am curious why you said it wandered, because that's what it's explored each and every season. I can totally get not enjoying it, but I don't think the show ever wandered from it's mission statement. I do think a lot of people jumped on because of the surface fun of the park stuff, which I agree was a ton of fun. But I much preferred the natural evolution of the Host uprising, into their own conflict on what life would be going forward.

Can't really blame anyone who felt Westworld, after an acclaimed first season set in and around the workings of Westworld, lost focus when it moved away from the park. I'd agree that the show's themes remained largely consistent, however I'd also say it suffered for the shifts it took, not just from the location but for how that affected the utility of its cast.

 

[Sithborg]

Ugh, I really thought they'd let them finish out their 5-season plan. But then, that was the way of the HBO of Old. We're in the "F*** Storytelling" Era now.

I think it is more of a '**** JJ Abrams and Bad Robot' era.


The decisions involved with this decision just feels bizarre beyond "**** JJ Abrams".

 

[squeekness]

I think it is more of a '**** JJ Abrams and Bad Robot' era.


The decisions involved with this decision just feels bizarre beyond "**** JJ Abrams".

The core cast deserve every penny. The cast has always been wonderful.

 

[Filmfreak]

Yeah, once again like in Batgirl they decided that it's better to completely throw away an X amount of money than paying more but giving the projects any sort of chance for revenue. And of course maintain a good relationship with your associates. Zazlav's shortsightedness is one of a kind. But of course he doesn't care because he won't be around in two years.