If you happened to miss the first season finale of HBO’s hit series Westworld, the most succinct way to summarize all of the goings-on would be to say that the proverbial poop has hit the fan, leaving the eponymous park in a state of uproar, completely changing the landscape of the show heading into season 2, which begins on April 22nd at 9:00pm EST.
During a recent press day, Daily Dead had the chance to speak briefly with actor Luke Hemsworth, who plays security agent Stubbs on Westworld, and he discussed how his character deals with the new power struggle in the park, how the series has made him take an introspective look at the concept of what it means to be human, the thrill and challenges of keeping Westworld’s secrets, and more.
[SPOILER WARNING: While nothing too in-depth about season 2 of Westworld is discussed below, some of this interview delves into the events of season 1. So, for those who haven’t watched it, consider this a warning that there might be some items below that could be considered spoilers.]
Did you feel like from season 1 you had a handle on who this guy was, and how did that get upended with where things are heading into season 2?
Luke Hemsworth: Yeah, for sure, this show is constantly evolving. It's constantly evolving up until the night before you're shooting, so to say you have a handle on it is kind of true, but not really [laughs], so I think we've got to be very flexible more than anything, and just know your shit, basically. But yeah, I get to do a lot of really cool stuff, so it's a progression, and there's a definite through line there. I'm trying not to say too much, though [laughs].
We were able to screen the first episode of this season, and without spoilers, where do you see Stubbs fitting into everything? The park is in chaos, and you have these other factors, too, that seem to have a bearing on how everything with the hosts is being handled.
Luke Hemsworth: Stubbs has always been, or the way I always played him, was that he was very humane, and he was not a torturer, and did not enjoy any of this sadistic stuff. He was a worker who would get stuff done, but didn't take any pleasure in any of the pain, so he’s very empathetic. I found it more interesting to play him that way, because I feel like every other human in the park is a complete asshole, so there's got to be a ray of sunshine here somewhere and some hope for our species. So, hopefully Stubbs is that hope [laughs].
This show definitely dives into the ideas of identity and humanity, and what the human condition really is. And I'm curious, for you now being a part of this show for two seasons, how has that made you question your own humanity or identity in this world? Or maybe it hasn't.
Luke Hemsworth: Oh no, I definitely question it every day. It’s funny, because I think I'm quite a positive person, and the show examines the human race’s propensity towards violence. That was jarring for me, the fact that something that people really respond to is violence. Our stories have this unique nature to them, where these characters are able to hurt things and are mainly doing horrendous acts to these creatures who are able to simulate emotion or pain. And just because they simulate it, does that mean that it’s not real? And if you know that and you still do it, then what does that say about you?
The show has raised a lot of dark questions in terms of what we do when there are no consequences, and it's a little depressing. We examine a lot of dark things, but maybe by shining a light on the dark stuff, it shows that we are evolving and that we can continue to evolve.
Because there is a lot of secrecy around Westworld, from your perspective, is there a thrill to sometimes not having all the answers to all the questions, because you can immerse yourself in the journey of the story, too?
Luke Hemsworth: I think so, because it teaches you to let go of control. You have to completely trust the directors, and I think if Jonathan [Nolan, executive producer] wasn't as good as he is, and as articulate and smart as he is, then it would be another question. He's just a wealth of knowledge, he answers your questions until he gets tired of them, and he knows exactly what he wants. When you're in the hands of someone like that, then it’s much easier to let go. I'm a minor character, so I imagine the stuff that I'm given is very different to what Evan [Rachel Wood] and Jeffrey [Wright] are given. But it’s all very exciting to watch unfold.
From a production standpoint, Westworld is clearly one of the most ambitious shows that's currently running on TV these days, and we’ve only seen just a few parts of this park so far. We’ve seen some hints that there’s so much more out there, and I was wondering if there’s anything you can tell us about just how much bigger all this will get?
Luke Hemsworth: Yeah, Westworld is really huge. I never realized how huge it was when we first started on the show, and they definitely delve into that a lot deeper this season. There’s obviously the Shogun World that has been talked about, but that’s just one part of the park, so it’s all mind bogglingly cool.
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In case you missed it, check here to read Heather's Westworld Season 2 interview with Angela Sarafyan.
Heather A. Wixson was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, until she followed her dreams and moved to Los Angeles in 2009. A 14-year veteran in the world of horror entertainment journalism, Wixson fell in love with genre films at a very early age, and has spent more than a decade as a writer and supporter of preserving the history of horror and science fiction cinema. Throughout her career, Wixson has contributed to several notable websites, including Fangoria, Dread Central, Terror Tube, and FEARnet, and she currently serves as the Managing Editor for Daily Dead, which has been her home since 2013. She's also written for both Fangoria Magazine & ReMind Magazine, and her latest book project, Monsters, Makeup & Effects: Volume One will be released on October 20, 2021.
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