A SYFY Mania Interview With Lisa Joy, Westworld Co-Creator On How It Became a Documentary Throughout Its Seasons

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According to co-creator Lisa Joy, the problems explored in Westworld evolved from "sci-fi to documentary cinema" over the years,

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hinting at what a fifth season of the HBO juggernaut may have looked like. Joy stated during a Series Mania speech that improvements in

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AI and the invention of ChatGPT mean that Westworld's subject matter has recently grown more relevant and timely.

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"These subjects will be explored further, if not in Westworld, then in other shows, pushing [the topic] to new dimensions," she told Deadline.

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"I believe it's a fertile ground for exploration." Westworld was canceled by HBO Max late last year after four seasons, and both Joy and co-creator Jonathan Nolan

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have stated that they would have loved to see it continue for a fifth and final season. Since then, Roku and Tubi have acquired the show's back library.

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Over the six-year run of Westworld, Joy stated that the themes being addressed "moved from sci-fi to documentary cinema."

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She added that she and her writing team have "tentpole moments prepared for every season" beginning with the pilot.

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"It was like an intellectual hellscape," she says of creating the pilot. "You begin with the fundamentals, and then everyone offers fresh ideas or inspirations."

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