[This story contains spoilers for Westworld season 4 episode “Well Enough Alone.”]
Ed Harris doesn’t know how it will end for William, also known as The Man in Black, when Westworld concludes its fifth and final season, but he has some thoughts.
The Oscar-nominated actor has played the role of the sadistic park owner and regular guest since the premiere episode of the HBO series in 2016. In his youth, William (played by Jimmi Simpson) seems a good boy. But he is eventually corrupted by Westworld, where he visits him to carry out his evil actions on the robots. That is, until the uprising at the end of the first season after the hosts become aware of themselves. Driving his wife to commit suicide and killing his daughter (even though he thought she was a host) left William with nothing. And when viewers find him in season 4, he learns that he somehow survived after a copy of himself cut William’s throat at the end of season 3. William, presumably real, is now being kept in a huge cryological chamber by a host. copy of Charlotte Hale (Tessa Thompson) as the host version of William makes his orders.
In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter before the Sunday premiere of “Well Enough Alone,” the veteran of the stage, screen, and television addressed a number of topics, such as what part of global history is told to him and when, as well as whether he believes William might be redeemed.
In the following chat, Harris also talks about the golf scene from this week’s episode and the pain the LeMat pistol has given him over the seasons.
How far did you know the arc, that is, were you ready to play a version of a sequel to William’s AI before this season’s scripts arrived?
At the end of last season, earlier this season I didn’t know anything that would end up being an AI. I spent most of the season in my white jumpsuit, which I was very happy to get out of. And then [co-creator] Lisa Joy gave me a season 4 general arc, understanding that I was basically a partisan of Tessa’s character.
Ed Harris as William in ‘Westworld’ Courtesy of John Johnson / HBO
Did you have to rethink how the character would interact as a host?
I don’t know if there’s much difference between the two, but yes. He really follows orders. She has programmed him to the point that he is actually doing it on his orders, but hopefully, throughout the season, as the other hosts have done, he will start to grow inside, becoming a little more aware of his own being and expanding your being. horizons a bit. Things start to change a little later in the season.
Can William be redeemed and do you want him to be redeemed?
That’s a very good question. You know, I wouldn’t mind him, the real human William, coming out of the cryogenic machine and correcting some situations for which he’s responsible. I don’t know if that will happen. I probably haven’t been told, but I’m not sure if he has much chance of surviving. I don’t know if he will ever be this man again [played by Jimmi Simpson]. I hope he gets back some aspect of who he was when he was younger, but I really don’t know if he will. I have no idea what they are planning. We have one more season, which will start shooting next April and May. I have no idea where it will end up.
Is Westworld your favorite park in the show? And he directed and starred in Appaloosa [2008] make this project more appealing to you when it was originally started?
The whole idea of being in this western, you know how to ride a horse and be in this western costume, being The Man in Black, attracts me a lot. (Laughs.) I really like my Western Man in Black costume and who it is when I wear it. Wearing all these layers of black, when I sweat, especially when it’s 100 degrees, keeps me cool, so I don’t care. But when I take off my black hat, sweat falls down my face.
I loved the golf scene from this week’s episode. Was it fun to shoot? Do you play?
(Laughs.) I’ve played in the past, but I gave it up a bit because the last time I played, I threw the putter in the bushes. I hadn’t played for a few years, so a professional came over and helped my swing a bit. It’s not a very good swing, it’s a bit of a go, but it’s better than it was. And I really got to that green a few times. It was fun, yes.
Ed Harris as William on ‘Westworld’ Courtesy of HBO
I’m not much of a gunman, but I went down a rabbit hole because I was so fascinated with William’s LeMat. From what I’ve read, these weapons, beyond being exceptionally rare, were quite delicate. What has been your experience with the gun?
I had a very hard time with this thing. In fact, they have another replica that is a little better, but is very hard to hit with one hand. I gave it to different people and said, “Just try to fool this thing.” And especially if I’m supposed to shoot fast, it was really a pain. But you know, through the magic of film and editing, it came out. But yeah, it was a little annoying.
And finally, I’d love to hear your opinion on the evolution of technology at lighting speeds, even since the show began in 2016. From autonomous cars to robot dogs, and so on. , I guess it must be wild to see it all while starring. in a program about technology that goes wrong.
I must say that I believe it is our responsibility as humans to treat technology constructively. As much as the Internet is about keeping people connected, it also increases people’s ability to do really bad things, whether it’s harassment or death threats to senators. Personally, I’m far behind in understanding current technology, and I don’t care. I guess we throw our cell phones in the ocean most days. It scares me. My daughter is 29 years old and I am 71. I can’t imagine what the world would be like when she is my age, I can’t even imagine myself.
Edited interview for length and clarity.
Westworld airs new episodes on Sundays on HBO.