In a sad bit of news though, Jonathan Nolan and J.J. Abrams' "Westworld" TV series will NOT be premiering this year as hoped. The network loves the pilot, but extending the concept to a series sounds like it's proving more of a challenge:

"The pilot is a really powerful starting point, but when you're doing a series, you go, 'OK, so what's the next episode? What's bringing you in?' You can't just be a spectacle every week."

'Westworld' is a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin. The one-hour drama features actors Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Rodrigo Santoro, Shannon Woodward, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Angela Sarafyan, and Simon Quarterman.

Jonathan Nolan serves as executive producer/writer/director; Lisa Joy as executive producer/writer; executive producers are J.J. Abrams, Jerry Weintraub, and Bryan Burk; co-executive producer Kathy Lingg; producer Athena Wickham; and co-producer Susie Ekins. The series is produced by Bad Robot Productions, Jerry Weintraub Productions and Kilter Films in association with Warner Bros. Television

'Westworld' is inspired by the film of the same name, written and directed by Michael Crichton.

‘Westworld’ Actors Warned About Graphic Sex Scenes
September 30, 2015 | 08:02AM PT
Dave McNary
Film Reporter @Variety_DMcNary

In an unusual move, SAG-AFTRA has notified members that they have the right to withdraw from scenes requiring nudity or participation in “graphic sexual situations” in a production of HBO’s “Westworld.”

The union, in a member alert posted on its website early Wednesday, said it had become aware that background actors employed on the production had been required to sign a document agreeing to participate in the scenes.

“The SAG-AFTRA Agreement provides that consent to appear in scenes requiring nudity or sex acts may be withdrawn at any time (consent may not be withdrawn as to scenes already shot),” SAG-AFTRA said. “The Agreement further provides that the set must be closed to anyone not having business with the production and that no still photography may be authorized without the consent of the background actor.”

The union said that it will have a representative on the set Wednesday to answer questions.

The union also posted a link to the consent form, which reads: “This document serves to inform you that this project will require you to be fully nude and/or witness others fully nude and participate in graphic sexual situations. By accepting this Project assignment, you may be required to do any of the following: appear fully nude; wear a pubic hair patch; perform genital-to-genital touching; have your genitals painted; simulate oral sex with hand-to-genital touching; contort to form a table-like shape while being fully nude; pose on all fours while others who are fully nude ride on your back; ride on someone’s back while you are both fully nude; and other assorted acts the Project may require. The Project will also include language and sexual situations that some may consider personally objectionable or uncomfortable.”

HBO did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The one-hour drama, inspired by the 1973 film of the same name, is “a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin.” The series, set to air in February, stars Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden and Thandie Newton.

Jonathan Nolan serves as executive producer/writer/director and Lisa Joy is executive producer/writer. Executive producers are J.J. Abrams, Jerry Weintraub, and Bryan Burk; Kathy Lingg is co-executive producer; Athena Wickham is producer; and Susie Ekins is co-producer. The series is produced by Bad Robot Productions, Jerry Weintraub Productions and Kilter Films in association with Warner Bros. Television.

contort to form a table-like shape while being fully nude; pose on all fours while others who are fully nude ride on your back

simulate oral sex with hand-to-genital touching;

HBO’s ‘Westworld’ Shuts Down Production, Still Targeting 2016 Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)
JANUARY 17, 2016 | 03:15PM PT
Debra Birnbaum
Executive Editor, TV
@debrabirnbaum

Production has been temporarily shut down on HBO’s highly anticipated drama “Westworld,” sources tell Variety.

The ambitious project, which doesn’t have an official premiere date, was shuttered for two months so executive producers Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy can catch up on the final four scripts. Production, which was originally scheduled to wrap in November, is now set to resume in March.

“As we head into the final phase of production on ‘Westworld,’ we’ve made the decision to take a brief hiatus in order to get ahead of the writing,” said HBO in a statement.

Sources tell Variety the shutdown is temporary and that HBO is confident that the series will make its targeted premiere date. HBO has yet to specify a date beyond saying it will air in 2016.

The one-hour drama, inspired by the 1973 film starring Yul Brynner, is described as “a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin.” The series stars Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden and Thandie Newton.

When “Westworld” was first ordered to series in November 2014 (the pilot was greenlit in 2013), HBO was targeting a 2015 premiere date, which it promoted with several Vines.

The production has faced earlier questions about graphic sex scenes, when background actors employed on the production were required to sign a document agreeing to possibly “perform genital-to-genital touching.” HBO issued a statement placing blame on an external casting agency, and resolved the issue with SAG-AFTRA by revising the document.

The project hails from Warner Bros. TV, J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions and Jerry Weintraub Productions. Abrams and Bryan Burk also executive produce.