Ed Harris Joins All-Star Cast of HBO's WESTWORLD

According to Deadline, Ed Harris is the latest to join the all-star cast of HBO's new drama pilot WESTWORLD, from J.J. Abrams. Also in the cast are Anthony Hopkins, Evan Rachel Wood, Demetrius Grosse, Kyle Bornheimer, Currie Graham, Lena Georgas, Steven Ogg, James Marsden, Timothy Lee DePriest, and Eddie Rouse.

In Michael Crichton's original 1973 movie, WESTWORLDwas "set in the near future at a high-tech, highly realistic amusement part called Delos that features androids that are nearly identical to human beings." WESTWORLD was previously adapted into the 1980 drama series BEYOND WESTWORLD, which also incorporated elements from the film's sequel FUTUREWORLD.

Harris will take on the role of "The Man in Black - the distillation of pure villainy into one man."

The project comes from J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot, Warner Bros. TV and LOST's Bryan Burk, with PERSON OF INTEREST's Jonathan Nolan set to direct and co-write the pilot with Lisa Joy. Jerry Weintraub, who has been gunning for the series for years, will also produce.

Harris has directed a number of Theater Productions and starred in the production of Neil LaBute's one-man play Wrecks at The Public Theater. Other theater credits include Taking Sides and Precious Sons. He will soon be seen on the big screen in Snowpiercer from The Weinstein Company. Other film and TV credits include The Right Stuff and HBO's Game Change.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride