The 1973 sci-fi classic Westworld, written and directed by Michael Crichton, is getting a remake at Warner Bros. Screenwriter David Koepp is attached to the project, which is currently in development. Contrary to earlier reports, no director is attached to the film at this time.
Original 'Westworld' Plot and Legacy
The original Westworld is set in a futuristic adult amusement park themed to the Old West. Guests interact with humanoid robots, living out their cowboy fantasies. However, a systemic failure causes the robots to turn against the guests. The film starred Yul Brynner as the Gunslinger, a memorable character who leads the robotic uprising.
The film was a minor box office hit, earning $10 million for MGM on a budget of just $1.2 million. It predated modern concerns about AI and Crichton’s own Jurassic Park, which also involved a high-tech amusement park breaking down. Arrow Video recently released a deluxe 4K package of the original film, featuring special features.
Westworld's Mini-Franchise and HBO Series
Westworld inspired a mini-franchise, including the 1976 sequel Futureworld and the short-lived 1980 TV series Beyond Westworld. The latter, which aired on CBS, was canceled after just two episodes (five were produced) and did not involve Crichton.
Decades later, Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan revived Westworld as a prestige HBO series. The first season, starring Evan Rachel Wood, Jeffrey Wright, Ed Harris, and Anthony Hopkins, aired in 2016 and became a critical and commercial success. However, subsequent seasons grew increasingly complex, and the fourth season, which aired in 2022, led to the cancellation of a planned fifth season. The series was removed from HBO’s streaming platform but remains available for purchase on digital and physical media.
David Koepp's Recent Work
David Koepp, one of Hollywood’s most successful screenwriters, is attached to the Westworld remake. Koepp recently released Cold Storage, a horror comedy based on his own novel, and is awaiting the release of Disclosure Day, a Steven Spielberg UFO film set to open on June 12. Last year, Koepp wrote two films for Steven Soderbergh: Presence, a ghost story, and Black Bag, a spy thriller.
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