James Marsden Reacts To Westworld Cancellation: "Maybe There’s Some World Where It Can Get Completed Somehow"

James Mardsen has opened up about the cancellation of HBO’s sci-fi series Westworld, and, boy, is he disappointed.

In a Rolling Stone interview, Mardsen, who plays robot cowboy Teddy Flood on Westworld, thought Warner Bros Discovery’s decision to shelf the show right after its fourth season is a “disappointment”.

“I’d be lying to you if I told you that the way we ended Westworld wasn’t a disappointment,” Marsden said. “I’m never going to speak without gratitude about any of my experiences, but it would have been nice to be able to complete the story we wanted to finish.”

“I love this Westworld family,” he added. “It was one of those unique opportunities to be part of something where I also would be sitting at home ravenously waiting for the next episode as a fan. I totally understand it’s an expensive show and big shows have to have big audiences to merit the expense, I just wish it was about more than financial success.”

The Dead to Me actor said he’s still game to finish the Westworld saga if such an opportunity arises. “Who knows, maybe there’s some world where it can get completed somehow,” he said. “Maybe that’s just wishful thinking, because I know we had plans to finish it the way we wanted to.”

Besides getting cancelled, Westworld has also been pulled from HBO Max (and HBO Go in Southeast Asia), as well as a host of shows (including The Nevers, Raised by Wolves, FBoy Island, Finding Magic Mike, and The Time Traveler’s Wife). 

The move was part of Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s aggressive cost-cutting strategy, which also included the infamous axing of the near-completed Batgirl movie.

According to trade reports, Westworld and other shows removed from HBO Max will be licenced to third-party free ad-supported (FAST) channels such as Pluto TV, Tubi and Peacock. No word on where Westworld will end up in Southeast Asia. 8 DAYS has reached out to Warner Bros Discovery for comment.

Meanwhile, Westworld showrunners Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy have moved on to another sci-fi series, Amazon Prime Video’s The Peripheral. Maybe Teddy can crossover to that show?

Photos: TPG News/Click Photos