J.J. Abrams is teaming up with Jonathan Nolan (brother and frequent collaborator of Christopher Nolan) on a remake of writer-director Michael Crichton’s 1973 film Westworld. It is a science fiction / western story with a premise well suited for them: A robot malfunction creates havoc and terror for unsuspecting vacationers at a futuristic, adult-themed amusement park.
Warner Brothers has been trying to get a Westworld remake going for years, and HBO has committed to producing a pilot for a TV series. It will be directed by Jonathan Nolan. He is also co-writing with his wife, Lisa Joy (Burn Notice). It will be produced by Jerry Weintraub and Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions. The remake is described as “a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin.”
Jonathan Nolan and J.J. Abrams will serve as executive producers, alongside Jerry Weintraub and Bryan Burk, with Kathy Lingg co-executive producing. Athena Wickam will produce the series with Warner Brothers TV, Bad Robot, Jerry Weintraub Prods. and Kilter Films. According to Deadline, it’s one of the biggest commitments HBO has ever made.
