When is the Westworld season 5 release date? Those who have remained loyal to the hit show will be desperate for more, since Westworld season 4 ended in August 2022. Based on a 1973 movie of the same name, this version has divided audiences since its debut in 2016, but the mystery ain’t over yet.
We’ve seen some incredible names come and go in the Westworld cast through the years, from Hollywood veterans like Ed Harris and Anthony Hopkins, to MCU star Tessa Thompson, and more recently, Breaking Bad alum Aaron Paul. That’s not to mention the talent of Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden, and Jeffrey Wright, who have been mainstays since day one.
So, what’s next for this mind-bending drama series? Well, we’ve got all the details you need regarding the Westworld season 5 release date, including who will be involved, and what exactly could happen in the sci-fi series moving forward.
Westworld season 5 release date speculation
Sadly, there’s no Westworld season 5 release date because the show has been cancelled. HBO made the announcement in November 2022.
In a statement, the network said: “Over the past four seasons, Lisa and [Jonathan] 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.”
Before this, star Ed Harris had suggested there will indeed be a fifth and final instalment. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in July 2022, Harris said, “I have no idea what they’re planning. We have one more season, which will start filming next April and May. I have no idea where that’s going to end up.”
Westworld season 5 plot speculation
The Westworld season 5 plot would’ve determined the fate of Dolores and the “next world”. While the season 4 finale tied up a fair few loose ends, it would appear there is still a little bit of work to be done before the Westworld journey is complete.
Westworld showrunner Lisa Joy has told Deadline that she and creator Jonathan Nolan had “always had an ending in mind” and teased “we have not quite reached that yet.” Clearly, there are some pieces of the puzzle left to solve then and there’s sure to be plenty of plot twists along the way.
By the end of season 4, we learned that the human race and the AI hosts caused their own annihilation, and that all life on Earth had ended. The virtual worlds of The Sublime are all that remain, so Dolores would need to return to the Western setting and complete a test to see whether there is any chance of sentient life returning to Earth.
There are also plenty of teasers dotted throughout the past four seasons that still need to be connected. Lisa Joy told Vulture, “we’ve left clues and flash-forwards throughout the season as to things that will happen,” so it stands to reason that we will see those little plot points addressed.
Westworld season 5 cast speculation
While we don’t know for sure, we can be pretty certain that the Westworld season 5 cast would’ve feature Evan Rachel Wood. What’s fascinating though, is that within a virtual setting, pretty much any cast member from the past could return for a final swansong.
Judging by Ed Harris’ revelation that a fifth season is in the offing, it would also be safe to assume that he has a part to play in the next chapter of Westworld.
One character we are almost certain won’t be coming back, is Tessa Thompson’s Charlotte Hale. Lisa Joy told Deadline, “Some deaths must be respected,” before adding “if you do crush your CPU like that; that is where the soul of the host resides, so to speak. So, yes, no more Hale.”
So, no Tessa, but as Joy says, “There are ways of conjuring characters back. There are some faces we will see again.” While purely speculative, this definitely opens the doors for the likes of Thandiwe Newton’s Maeve, Jeffrey Wright’s Bernard, and Aaron Paul’s Caleb to return for Westworld season 5, despite being killed in the season 4 finale.
That’s all we know about the Westworld season 5 release date at the moment, but more details will emerge as time goes by and we will be right here to keep you updated. In the meantime, why not check out our guide to the Outer Range season 2 release date or the 1883 season 2 release date for more cowboy drama.