Great News for Fans of Westworld, Other Fall HBO Series
HBO announced today that it has renewed Westworld, Divorce, and Insecure for second seasons via Casey Bloys, president, HBO Programming.
“I am thrilled to announce the pickup of our three fall series, all of which have distinctive, original voices,” said Bloys. “Critics and viewers alike have welcomed Westworld and Insecure, as well as the return of Sarah Jessica Parker to the network after 12 years in Divorce.”
Season-to-date, Westworld is averaging a gross audience of 11.7 million viewers, outperforming both Game of Thrones and True Detective during similar times in their first seasons. Divorce and Insecure are averaging 4.4 million and 3.2 million viewers, respectively, on par with other HBO half-hours like VEEP and Girls.
Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, the drama series Westworld is a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin, exploring a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged. Fans are talking, tweeting, blogging and podcasting about all the different twists and turns the show has taken, and fan theories about the characters and plotlines have upstaged talk of both Game of Thrones and other Sunday night competition at the water cooler.
Westworld kicked off its ten-episode first season October 2 on HBO, debuting hour-long episodes Sundays at 9:00 p.m.(ET/PT). Created for television by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy, both of whom executive produce and write, with Nolan directing, the series that is based on the 1973 film “Westworld,” written by Michael Crichton.
The cast for the first season of Westworld includes Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Tessa Thompson, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Jimmi Simpson, Rodrigo Santoro, Shannon Woodward, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Ben Barnes, Simon Quarterman, Angela Sarafyan, Luke Hemsworth and Clifton Collins, Jr. Fans are predicting another big night at the Emmys for HBO and statuettes for the actors’ brilliant performances.
Vanity Fair called the show “a rare kind of truly transporting television,” while People Magazine hailed it as “ingenious.” Time Magazine said Westworld is “Fall’s most promising drama,” and USA Today praised the “compelling stellar performances.”
Season one credits: Westworld was created for television by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy, based on the film written by Michael Crichton. Production companies include Kilter Films, Bad Robot Productions, and Jerry Weintraub Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Executive producers are Jonathan Nolan, Lisa Joy, J.J. Abrams, Jerry Weintraub, and Bryan Burk.
The comedy series Divorce follows Frances, who has suddenly begun to reassess her life and her strained relationship with her husband after more than a decade of marriage and two children. But she soon discovers that making a clean break and a fresh start is harder than she thought. Serving as an executive producer, Sarah Jessica Parker stars as Frances in the series, which is created by Sharon Horgan. Thomas Haden Church stars as Frances’ husband, who is struggling to cope with their marriage falling apart.
Divorce kicked off its ten-episode first season October 9 on HBO, debuting half-hour episodes Sundays at 10:00 p.m.(ET/PT).
Newsweek said the show is “funny, heartening and chockful of strong performances,” while the Washington Post noted, “Sarah Jessica Parker is terrifically on point.”
Season one credits: Divorce was created by Sharon Horgan, with Paul Simms serving as a showrunner; executive produced by Paul Simms, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sharon Horgan, Alison Benson and Aaron Kaplan.
Created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore, the comedy series Insecure explores the contemporary black female experience in an “unclichéd and authentic way.” Rae and Yvonne Orji stars as best friends who must deal with their own real-life flaws as they attempt to navigate different worlds and cope with an endless series of uncomfortable everyday experiences.
Insecure launched its eight-episode first season October 9 on HBO, debuting half-hour episodes Sundays at 10:30 p.m.(ET/PT).
USA Today praised the show as “bright, cutting, funny,” and Entertainment Weekly called it “smart, funny and unfailingly real.”
Season one credits: Insecure was created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore; executive produced by Issa Rae, Prentice Penny, Melina Matsoukas, Michael Rotenberg, Dave Becky and Jonathan Berry. Larry Wilmore serves as a consultant.