Q&A: Jimmi Simpson on ‘Westworld’ theories: ‘I haven’t seen anyone nail this’

TORONTO – There’s no shortage of elaborate and wild “Westworld” theories on the web, but star Jimmi Simpson, who plays William, says he hasn’t seen anyone “accurately figure it out.”

“I don’t spend all that much time online but I feel like I’ve been forwarded quite a few things and I haven’t seen anyone nail this,” says Simpson of the many fan-written hypotheses for Sunday’s season 1 finale.

“There are a lot of people coming close to some elements, but as far as the actual machine that’s happening at the end, I think people will be refreshingly surprised and pleased.”

HBO’s hit sci-fi series is set in a futuristic high-tech, Western-themed amusement park where guests pay top dollar to live out fantasies alongside androids dubbed “hosts.” Simpson and Ed Harris are among the cast members who play the guests, while Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton and James Marsden are among those who play hosts.

The Canadian Press spoke with Simpson about the series, which was created by Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan, who got a best screenplay Oscar nomination for the mind-bender “Memento” and also penned “Interstellar,” “The Dark Knight” and “The Dark Knight Rises” with his brother Christopher. The husband-and-wife team also serve as executive producers along with “Lost” creator J. J. Abrams, among others.

CP: Fan theories are going wild ahead of Sunday and some are wondering if there will be another twist, or a cliffhanger. But you’ve said that everything will be answered. Can you elaborate on that?

Simpson: It’s just not something Jonah and Lisa and J.J. were making up as they went along. I think sometimes people are used to a concept being introduced on television and then they see people respond to certain things and they add some new twists and people like it, so they do more stuff like that. This is not that show.

This is a story and a narrative that Jonah and Lisa have created already, and so all of these twists and turns are part of their grand execution to deliver their story the way they think it would be best delivered.

So I think at the end of this season, it’s the end of a chapter and they’re prepared for it and I think they really kill it and they satisfy, I would say, at least most of all the things you’re wondering. And then they do this wonderful thing and they just flick on this light and now you’re seeing a future as well, but they’re not making you wait for the questions you’ve already been asking.

CP: See “a future” — so we’re entering a new timeline?

Simpson: Well, when I say “future,” it’s not specific in timelines but it’s like you see what’s going to be happening next in this story. (He laughs) Don’t trick me.

CP: You’ve said the creators have always known how the series will end. Do you know?

Simpson: No. They gave us just each a piece of information as it was happening while we were shooting…. I think it really netted them some beautiful work from the actors having to only pay attention to what the scene was at hand.

CP: Did you have your own theories as to what was happening with William, and were you right when you read the finale?

Simpson: I was probably more uninformed to the future of this character than anything I’ve ever played, so every single turn for William was a revelation to me, Jimmi.

Each thing was kind of shocking and I couldn’t believe that they were happening to me as an actor, who’s been so happy to make his living just being this weird guy who jumps into a scene once in a while.

About halfway through, I had the suspicion as to where William was headed and I asked and their faces were shocked that I had figured anything out. And then they said, “Just stop talking about it.” So they were really amazing at sweetly denying us information.

CP: Everybody is asking you whether William is the Man in Black. I know you can’t answer that.

Simpson: For sure.

CP: But fans have gone to great lengths to compare the two of you, even posting side-by-side photos of your faces. What do you think of that attention and detailed analysis of yourself?

Simpson: It’s very strange to see my face split-screened with literally an icon of mine. Mr. Harris has just levelled me creatively with everything he’s done and so it’s very surreal. But I also am aware that everything is temporary.

I think in a few months we’ll all be doing different things and everybody will be focused on hopefully other things. But right now, it’s a really nice experience to have people responding to a work not only that I feel relatively proud of but just as a whole, the show I believe in very much.

I think Jonah and Lisa have made this push to make television more thoughtful and more pertinent and I’m amazed that I get to be a part of this experience.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today