HBO paid big money to unveil aWestworldSeason 2 Super Bowl trailer during the big game this evening, which also revealed the premiere date of the new season. Well not theexactdate, but the spot saysWestworldreturns in April, confirming that the high-concept sci-fi series returns this spring—in the window that was traditionally reserved forGame of Thrones.
The spot offers a new look at the second season of the pay cable channel’s high-profile sci-fi series, which first debuted in 2016. From creatorsJonathan NolanandLisa Joy, the series is a loose adaptation of theMichael Crichtonnovel of the same name and takes place in a Western-themed park populated by highly sophisticated androids, in which humans pay big money to live out their fantasies. But as Season 1 progressed, the robots grew far closer to their own consciousness while park co-founder Robert Ford (Anthony Hopkins) began pushing his own dangerous experiments past their limits.
HBO previously only bought Super Bowl spots in 1997 and 1998, both of which touted the network as a whole, so thisWestworldspot is a very big deal. Indeed, not only isGame of Thronesnot coming back this year, the mega-hit series only has one season left.Westworldhas been conceived as a potential predecessor of sorts to that series in HBO’s eyes—a blockbuster-type level of production value and ideas, with HBO’s prestige sheen. While Season 1 garnered somewhat mixed reviews, the ratings were solid and fan anticipation is high for the second season.
This spot follows last year’s big Super Bowl spot forStranger ThingsSeason 2, which touted the second season of that highly anticipated Netflix series.Westworldhas a similar if not as extreme level of interest, especially given the developments that occurred towards the end of the second season.
Watch theWestworldSeason 2 Super Bowl trailer below andclick herefor our roundup of all the Super Bowl trailers. The series starsEvan Rachel Wood,Evan Rachel Wood,Ed Harris,Thandie Newton,James Marsden, andJimmi Simpson.
