While Westworld fans are awaiting the launch of season 4 of the HBO sci-fi drama, there is now a possibility they might have to wait even longer. As a reminder that even super-powered androids are susceptible to the ravages of a pandemic, Westworld's production has reportedly been halted due to COVID-19 infections.
The HBO hit was last seen when season 3 aired in 2020 as the series skipped 2021 entirely, most likely thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Season 4 of Westworld is expected to return in 2022, though it's not entirely clear when the show will relaunch. The recent news that things have been paused again could mean that the premiere will be pushed back further. Of course, it's also possible the pause won't be long enough to really throw a wrench into the works.
Deadline reported on Thursday that the production for the fourth season of Westworld has taken a pause because of a positive covid test. The positive test comes from a member of the production crew rather than a member of the cast of Westworld. The work on the show will take a break for at least two days next week as producers take stock of whether or not the test is the beginning of an outbreak or an isolated incident.
As cases of the coronavirus start to see a rise across the globe, mostly due to the delta variant, Westworld is far from the only program that has recently seen interference in getting a new season on the air. In recent days, FX Series American Horror Story had to pause the production of season 10.
The problem with having to halt work on a show isn't a uniquely American situation either. Over in the UK, both Netflix hit Bridgerton and HBO's Game of Thrones spinoff House of the Dragon are currently in a holding pattern due to Covid. Like with Westworld, the hope is that the holding pattern won't last long, but at the moment, everything has had to be shut down.
What exactly season 4 of Westworld will hold is also up in the air. While there has been teasing here and there, including a few sneak peeks behind the set of the HBO series, there have been few concrete details. It appears that Delores, Bernard, and the new and improved Charlotte Hale are going to continue to clash, but just how or what those clashes will entail are not yet known and likely won't be until closer to a release date.
Westworld seasons 1-3 are now available on HBO Max.
Source: Deadline