Ready Your Fan Theories, Ed Harris Is Back for ‘Westworld’ Season 2

Even as few doubted Westworld would earn official renewal from HBO, the show’s unique premise leaves it difficult to imagine what Season 2 might look like. At least one character central to core Westworld mysteries will return, however, as Ed Harris confirms his involvement with Season 2.

You’re warned of minor spoilers for some increasingly-likely fan theories from here on out, but however the final three Westworld episodes of Season 1 explain the identity of Harris’ mysterious “Man in Black,” it seems “The Maze” won’t necessarily prove the end of his story. Speaking to BBC Radio 4 (h/t IGN), Harris acknowledged at least some involvement with the second season:

I was just talking to Jonah Nolan last night, who’s a creator of this thing with his wife Lisa Joy, and yeah, they’re doing another season. They’re going to do ten more episodes, and I will be involved.

On its own, that quote can be difficult to read. Should Harris’ as-yet-unnamed character somehow die during (or before) Season 1 finale “The Bicameral Mind,” there’s every chance he could still return as a host, or some derivative of whatever “The Maze” is intended to represent. Not to mention, we still know precious little about the character himself, apart from increasing connections between the Man, Dolores and Jimmi Simpson’s William.

Either way, Westworld Season 2 is likely to arrive in 2018, thanks to lengthy production, but what involvement should we expect from Ed Harris?