What did the cast think of Westworld's cancellation?

James Marsden admits he has been left "disappointed" with HBO's decision to cancel Westworld.

The series ran for four seasons to critical success, but in November of 2022 it was announced that season five would not be made, leaving fans angered at the prospect of not seeing key storylines reach their conclusions, even if the ending to season four was deliberately ambiguous.

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HBO confirmed the news via a press release which read:

"Over the past four seasons, Lisa and Jonathan have taken viewers on a mind-bending odyssey, raising the bar at every step. We are tremendously grateful to them, along with their immensely talented cast, producers and crew, and all of our partners at Kilter Films, Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television. It’s been a thrill to join them on this journey.”

Marsden, who played Teddy Flood, has expressed regret that he and the rest of the cast will not get the chance to finish the Westworld arc.

"I'd be lying to you if I told you that the way we ended Westworld wasn't a disappointment," he told Rolling Stone.

"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. 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."

Will there be a Westworld season five?

HBO currently does not have any plans to extend the series, even if series creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy said they envisioned the show to end with a fifth season.

“Jonah and I have always had an ending in mind that we hope to reach. We have not quite reached it yet," Joy told Deadline.

Marsden, too, hopes that a fifth season will materalise in the future.

"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."