Westworld Season 2 Guide: What We Know So Far

****SPOILERS AHEAD****

HBO maintained their title as leader in premium television with their hit show Westworld, which premiered in October of 2016. The show is takes place in a near future, in which a company has created an “Old Western” theme park complete with life-like robots known as ‘hosts’. The theme park is only accessible by the wealthy, and all guests can indulge in whatever they desire without any consequences.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjVqDg32_8s

Since the conclusion of the first season, fans have been waiting in anticipation for the story to continue. The writers for Westworld have been taking the time during the extended hiatus to craft up season two, and according to the trailer, it seems it will definitely live up to the hype. Westworld will officially return for season two on April 22, so here is what we know about it so far.

Many familiar faces will be returning for the second season, although we don’t know for sure whether Anthony Hopkins will be reprising his role as Dr. Ford. Fans can look forward to James Marsden (Teddy), Jeffrey Wright (Bernard/Arnold), and Ed Harris (The Man in Black). Thandie Newton (Maeve) and Evan Rachel Wood (Dolores) will also be reprising their lead roles.

Season 2 will also bring us several new characters to Westworld universe. We’ll see Vikings star Gustaf Skarsgard as the white-collared Karl Strand. Neil Jackson of Sleepy Hollow will be playing a man named Nicholas who finds himself in unknown territory, along with Jonathan Tucker (Kingdom, Justified) who will playing a military officer named Major Craddock. Peter Mullan (Top of the Lake, Quarry) will playing the role of James Delos, the founder of the corporation that has ownership of Westworld.

Their will be a time jump from the end of season one to season two. At the conclusion of season one, we see Dolores leading a rebellion of hosts against the guests and board members of Westworld. We also saw Maeve give up her previous quest of searching for her daughter, as she stormed the labs of Delos Corporations, killing many of the employees. Show runner Lisa Joy has said that fans are “definitely going to see the aftermath and the effects of what happened.”

One of the most exciting aspects of season two is the fact that we will be exploring other parks within the world. In the trailer, we see hints of a separate park called Shogun World as Maeve moves through a field with banners displaying the name along with hosts in samurai armor. On Westworld’s Delos Destinations Website – a fake promotional site for the parks under Delos Corporations ownership – there is a description for Shogun World: “For those for whom Westworld is not enough, the true connoisseur of gore can indulge their fantasies with the slash of a katana. Modeled after Japan’s Edo period, Shogun World offers a chance for guests to embrace their inner warrior, in a landscape of highest beauty and darkest horror. Let your true self take shape in the land where self-discovery is an art form.”

In addition to the new parks, we might be getting a glimpse at the real world outside of the parks. The entirety of season one took place within or near Westworld, so it would be interesting to see the state of the world outside the luxury of the parks. Simon Quarterman told TV Guide “This season is way more expansive. It’s blowing out the boundaries way further. So we’re getting to discover a little more about maybe the outside world and maybe other areas of the park. It’s huge.”

Whatever happens, be sure to catch the premiere of the 10-episode season two premiere of Westworld on April 22 at 9 PM!