HBO surprisingly cancels "Westworld" after the fourth season. This is reported, among other things, by the industry portal "Deadline". The series creators Jonathan Nolan (46) and Lisa Joy (45) took viewers on an "unimaginable odyssey" and kept raising the bar, according to a statement by the US broadcaster. According to the industry journal "Variety", the reasons for the end include the high production costs of the series and declining viewership.

The series, which is based on Michael Crichton's (1942-2008) film of the same name from 1973, has won nine Primetime Emmy Awards, among other things, and boasted numerous stars. In the four seasons of "Westworld" there were well-known actors such as Evan Rachel Wood (35), Anthony Hopkins (84), Tessa Thompson (39), Thandiwe Newton (49), Aaron Paul (43), Ed Harris ( 71) and Jeffrey Wright (56).

"We've always planned for a final fifth season," Nolan said, according to Deadline in early October. At that point, he was still in negotiations with HBO and was hopeful. Joy, who is also Nolan's wife, recently told the portal during the fourth season finale: "Jonah (Nolan) and I always had an end in mind that we hope to reach. We haven't quite reached it yet." The series thus remains unfinished, should it not be picked up again at a later date for another season.