Deadline reports that Tessa Thompson (Dear White People) has joined the ever-expanding cast of Westworld as a series regular. HBO has pushed the series to order, which is being adapted from Michael Crichton’s other amusement-park-gone-murderously-wrong universe by Jonathan Nolan (Person Of Interest, brother of Christopher) and Lisa Joy. Thompson, who also had regular roles on 666 Park Avenue and Copper, will soon be seen in Creed opposite Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone.
Thompson will play Charlotte Hale, a “mysterious and savvy provocateur with a unique perspective” on the aforementioned world/theme park. Thompson’s character bio is certainly in line with the others we’ve seen so far, like James Marden’s “mysterious new arrival” and gunslinger; Sir Anthony Hopkins’ Dr. Robert Ford, the “brilliant and obstinate” creator of the park; or Evan Rachel Wood’s “quintessential farm girl” whose life is a lie.
Despite those rather cheery descriptions, Westworld isn’t a workplace comedy or Bonanza update. It’s a sci-fi thriller about a place and time wherein people travel to a park with killer robots and sexy saloon owners to purge themselves of some of their baser instincts. The teaser suggests it will also question what makes up our reality (killer robots, apparently).