"Westworld" is returning to HBO for its second season this year and with it is also the return of a slew of characters and the addition of new creatures to the titular theme park.
Showrunners Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy provided an update about what and who to expect in season 2. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, they confirmed that Anthony Hopkins' Robert Ford will not be one of them.
It can be recalled that his version of the park architect was killed in the hands of Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood) in the first season. However, that does not mean Dr. Ford will be completely forgotten. According to the publication, a younger version of his character will make an appearance via flashback as the season explores park owner Delos Corporation's past.
Nolan also revealed that security chief Ashley Stubbs (Luke Hemsworth) and programmer Elsie Hughes (Shannon Woodward) are still alive. Both were pulled into the park previously, with the former captured by a tribe of Native American hosts while finding Hughes. Now, they are finally experiencing the park as guests but as Joy teased, they may not be enjoying it at all.
Other favorites like Delos executive Charlotte Hale (Tessa Thompson) and William (Jimmi Simpson) aka Man in Black (Ed Harris) are coming back as well, along with Lee Sizemore (Simon Quarterman), Peter Abernathy (Louis Herthum), and Clementine Pennyfeather (Angela Sarafyan). Sizemore is apparently now a prisoner of Maeve while Hale finds herself at the mercy of the hosts. Abernathy, on the other hand, is said to play an important asset in the upcoming season, per Screen Rant.
The aforementioned characters will be joining Dolores, Maeve (Thandie Newton), Arnold (Jeffrey Wright), and Bernard (Jeffrey Wright) who were featured in the "Westworld" season 2 trailer.
Speaking of Bernard, Nolan further teased that he will be spending much of his time trying to deal with the aftermath of the initial host uprising. He will also be learning more secrets about Delos like the new class of white faceless host seen in the trailer.
"The drone hosts relate to the corporation's secret project which is hidden in plain sight in this park," Nolan explained. "As we talked about in the pilot, the park is one thing for the guests, and it's another thing for its shareholders and management... There is an agenda here that Delos has undertaken for a very long time."
"Westworld" season 2 premieres on HBO this April 22.
