Aaron Paul, known for his role on HBO's hit series Breaking Bad, has not lost faith in the possibility of completing the story of Westworld, the science fiction program cut short after its fourth season. During his recent appearance at SXSW, where he was promoting his new film Ash, Paul expressed optimism about the show's potential return.
At SXSW this week, Paul told Collider, "I do have kind of a sense, and there is a world where maybe we get to tell the rest of [the Westworld] story. I’m not going to say anything, but give it time. I’m still holding onto the idea... it was very well flushed out." His remarks reflect the sentiments of many fans who are still yearning for closure after the show's abrupt cancellation.
The cancellation of Westworld came as part of the drastic changes instituted by Warner Bros. following their merger with Discovery. Critically acclaimed in its earlier seasons, the show had begun to lose its luster, with the ratings for its third season plunging dramatically. The fourth season, aimed at reinvigorate the narrative, also failed to attract its previous audience, but it left many questions unanswered and concluded on a cliffhanger.
Jonathan Nolan, the series' co-creator along with his partner, Lisa Joy, had expressed his own hopes for what would have been the fifth season, even after the show was canceled. Public comments made by Nolan last year revealed similar sentiments to Paul’s during SXSW. Despite the bleak outlook, they maintained the desire to revisit the show, seeing potential to finish the gripping stories they had started.
The origins of Westworld date back to its ambitious premise of hybridizing westerns with science fiction, where artificial beings struggle under the constraints of their programming and the whims of their human creators. Westworld was heralded as one of HBO's flagship offerings alongside shows like Game of Thrones. Its original concept posited deep philosophical questions about artificial intelligence, freedom, and morality, which many viewers appreciated.
Even though its ratings began to dwindle, the storytelling remained ambitious and evolved throughout its run. The creator's vision intrigued those devoted to speculative fiction, resulting in the series becoming one of HBO's most discussed narratives. Unfortunately, no clear answers have been provided since its abrupt conclusion.
Paul's comments this week breathe new life, at least internally, for those who still cherish Westworld and hold out hope. Breaking Bad fans may recall how Paul's character, Jesse Pinkman, dealt with complex moral dilemmas, and now the actor embodies similar tenacity concerning the fate of the overlooked series.
While Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav may have decided to cancel the show, many television aficionados are disturbed by the lack of closure it delivered. This is compounded by the fact the series was removed from streaming services shortly after its cancellation, leading many to question the logic behind such corporate decisions stemming from the merger.
Although Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy have found success with their new project Fallout on Prime Video, they still have not ruled out the possibility of revisiting Westworld. At the end of the day, there is still hope for Paul and the show’s fans to see the stories wrapped up, giving them the ending they always felt was deserved.
Until then, fans can look back on the four seasons of Westworld, remembering its thought-provoking storytelling and the complex relationships developed among characters and their fates. And who knows? Like Paul expressed, perhaps the universe of Westworld isn’t quite closed yet.