In a shocking decision, HBO has decided to end Westworld after 4 seasons.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the network will not be going forward with a fifth season. While doing press at Comic-Con this past October , co-creator Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy were hoping HBO would give them another season in order to wrap up the show.
HBO released a statement about their decision to end Westworld: “Over the past four seasons, Lisa and Jonah have taken viewers on a mind-bending odyssey, raising the bar at every step. We are tremendously grateful to them, along with their immensely talented cast, producers and crew, and all of our partners at Kilter Films, Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television. It’s been a thrill to join them on this journey.”
Westworld debuted on HBO in October 2016, based on the 1973 film written and directed by Michael Crichton. The series is set in a futuristic Wild West amusement park where a group of androids overthrow their creators, with their rebellion spilling out into the real world.
While Westworld amassed 54 Emmy-award nominations and a Supporting Actress win for Thandiwe Newton, the show struggled in viewership. The Season 4 premiere, which debuted on June 26, opened to a disappointing 325,000 viewers according to the TV Series Finale website. In comparison, the Season 1 series premiere garnered 1.9 million viewers.