After years of delays and stalls, HBO was finally able to premiere the sci-fi thriller Westworld in 2016, and it quickly became a huge hit with viewers. The series was a ratings success, and the story had enough twists and turns to keep fans debating and theorizing between episodes. One of the biggest twists of Westworld Season 1 came with the reveal that William and the Man In Black are one and the same. Now, Jimmi Simpson has weighed in on whether he could return as young William in Season 2, saying this:
So far, my involvement in [Season 2] is unclear. If they have more for William, I would assume it would be a whole new kind of story. Because I feel like this story, the love affair [with Evan Rachel Wood's character, Dolores], we know everything, we know what happens, we don't have to belabor that point. But if they have a reason--I mean, it was the greatest set I've ever worked on. But we're all speculating what Season 2 will be, and I think it'll be something that will blow our minds, to the degree that Season 1 did. But I wouldn't be surprised if William showed up Season 3 or something.
Given that William is a past version of the Man In Black, it would make sense if Jimmi Simpson was never called upon to reprise the role in another season of Westworld. We saw a beginning, middle, and end of sorts to William's story; do we really need to see any more? Simpson's comments to GQ Style indicate that he enjoyed his work on Season 1, but he also doesn't sound like he'd be heartbroken if he's never brought back. Things are so often complicated in Westworld that William's story simply being over could be a good thing. Besides, Simpson himself has said that he was done after Season 1.
That said, we shouldn't could William out just yet. For one thing, Ed Harris is slated to return to Westworld in Season 2, and if the older version of the Man In Black can appear, then surely there's a way for his younger self to turn up. After all, Westworld regularly toys with different eras, and we've seen that the hosts are so lifelike that they can fool just about anybody. Just because we haven't seen a William host doesn't necessarily mean that there never will be a William host, and who's to say that the Man In Black can't have some new flashbacks to his days as William?
Anything is really possible at this point. Luckily, we don't have to wonder if Westworld will be back to give us our answers (and maybe another look at Jimmi Simpson as William). HBO already renewed the series for Season 2. The bad news is that Season 2 won't premiere until 2018, so we have a while to wait. Take a look at our breakdown of what we know so far about Westworld Season 2 for a peek ahead, and check out our midseason TV premiere schedule and our 2017 Netflix premiere schedule to see everything you can watch while you wait for more Westworld.
