For the first time in HBO’s history, the network purchase a Super Bowl commercial slot to promote a single show, Westworld. Twice previously, in 1997 and 1998, HBO ran Super Bowl ads to spotlight the channel as a whole, rather than a single project.
Currently, there is no premiere date for the second season of the widely acclaimed sci-fi series. At Comic-Con last year, HBO screened a teaser trailer for season two of Westworld but it the footage was taken from the first few weeks of shooting, so imagery was limited.
Production on the second season of Westworld has wrapped. That means trailer director Jonathan Nolan, a series co-creator, had many more options at his disposal when piecing together the Super Bowl spot.
It’s been over a year since the AI thriller series premiered on HBO in fall 2016. The time gap has given fans plenty of time to ponder and speculate about the direction the hour-long drama will take in the second season. With so much time between seasons one and two, the audience eagerly awaits even the tiniest glimpse into the altered reality vacation destinations developed by Delos Corporation.
The cast of Westworld includes Academy Award winner Sir Anthony Hopkins, Golden Globe winner Ed Harris, Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Evan Rachel Wood, and Golden Globe nominee Thandie Newton. And the cast doesn’t stop there. Jeffrey Wright, James Marsden, Jimmi Simpsons, Clifton Collins, Jr., Luke Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, and Shannon Woodward also play roles in Westworld.
While the HBO series received seven Emmy Award and three Golden Globes nominations, Westworld has yet to bring home the gold. Maybe the second season will garner the award-worthy recognition it so rightfully deserves.