Westworld has been renewed for a second season, as the epic sci-fi western show has proved popular with fans.
JJ Abrams’ remake of ’70s sci-fi film Westworld premiered on October 2 on HBO. The Star Wars: The Force Awakens director produced the series, which stars Anthony Hopkins, James Marsden and Evan Rachel Wood. It was written by Interstellar and The Dark Knight writer Jonathan Nolan.
According to Spin, HBO has confirmed that Westworld will be returning to screens for a second series. The series garnered 3.3 million viewers on its first day, between live and rerun broadcasts and streaming.
Read more: 7 Reasons HBO’s ‘Westworld’ Is Going To Be Your New Favourite TV Show
Bring yourself back online. #Westworld is renewed for Season 2. pic.twitter.com/AxU71qRPs2
— Westworld (@WestworldHBO) November 14, 2016
According to HBO programming president Casey Bloys, the show is now averaging nearly 12 million viewers per episode, including reruns, on-demand, and streaming. However, Bloys told Variety that we will likely not see new episodes of Westworld until 2018.
Westworld has been criticised in the US after an episode featured a four-minute orgy scene. Up to 40 actors were involved in the raunchy scene, which some viewers of the HBO show thought went too far.
Evan Rachel Wood, who plays Dolores in the show, said at the time: “It’s absolutely very rough. I don’t like gratuitous violence against women at all, but I would wait for the context in which it’s being used. As the show progresses, the way it’s being used is very much a commentary and a look at our humanity and why we find these things entertaining and why this is an epidemic, and flipping it on its head.
She added: “The roles for the women on this show are going to be very revolutionary. It’s very gender-neutral. I would ask, as somebody who is an advocate against any kind of abuse or violence and is outspoken about it, to give it a chance and wait to see where it’s going. I think it will surprise people.”