Last month, James Marsden had been rumored to be in talks for a role in HBO’s “Westworld.” Today, the rumors were confirmed.
TVLine is reporting that Marsden has signed on for a series regular role in “Westworld” as Teddy Flood, “a mysterious new arrival to the small frontier town who quickly proves both his charm — and his talent with a revolver. His pursuit of a local beauty launches him on a dark odyssey.”
Jonathan Nolan (“Person of Interest”) and Lisa Joy are writing the pilot episode of “Westworld,” which is a reboot of Michael Crichton’s 1973 Westworld movie. The potential TV series will retain the premise of the original movie, which featured an android revolt against their human masters within a futuristic theme park.
Marsden is primarily known for his appearances in the first three X-Men films, Superman Returns, Enchanted, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Lee Daniels’ The Butler, Straw Dogs, Hop and 2 Guns. On television, Marsden appeared on “Ally McBeal” and he had a recurring role on “30 Rock.”
Anthony Hopkins is headlining the cast of “Westworld” as Dr. Robert Ford, the man behind the futuristic theme park, while Evan Rachel Wood is playing the female lead, Dolores Abernathy, a Midwestern farm girl whose world is shattered when she discovers her true nature.
Related: HBO’s ‘Westworld’ Casts Six New Roles
Earlier this week, Jeffrey Wright (“Boardwalk Empire”), Rodrigo Santoro (“Lost”), Shannon Woodward (“Raising Hope”), Ingrid Bolso Berdal (Hercules), Angela Sarafyan (“The Good Guys”) and Simon Quarterman (The Devil Inside) were also added to the cast of “Westworld.”
J.J. Abrams, Jerry Weintraub and Bryan Burk are executive producing “Westworld” alongside Joy and Nolan. A start date for the pilot has not yet been announced.
