‘Westworld’ Season 2 Spoilers: Which Characters Are Guaranteed To Return?

It will be a long, long wait before viewers get to see “Westworld” Season 2, but that does not mean fans are going to stop talking about HBO’s sci-fi hit or that they are going to stop forming theories about the show and its characters.

To tease fans during the long wait, Marie Claire has come up with a list of things to expect next season. For one thing, the second season will be released in 2018, although no specifics have been given. This was already confirmed by show creator Jonathan Nolan.

“We won't be on the air until 2018,” he told Variety. “We started that conversation with the network when were shooting Episode 2 and we realized the complexity of trying to write and produce the show at the same time.”

But what about the characters? Who are going to return, and who are really gone for good?

Ed Harris, who plays the Man in Black, is actually one of the first to confirm his return.

Evan Rachel Wood has also confirmed her return as Dolores Abernathy/Wyatt. “No one's more excited than me to come back—I guarantee it!” she said.

As for Anthony Hopkins’ Dr. Robert Ford, he was killed off by Dolores/Wyatt during the season finale, so he’s really dead. However, he might come back in flashbacks or more interestingly, as a host himself.

“We were very lucky to have one amazing season with Anthony Hopkins. We loved working with him,” Nolan told Entertainment Weekly. “As for the show, where it goes, the characters—we've well established we're playing in a more advanced ruleset in terms of death and resurrection than other [projects] I've worked on. So I would say: assume nothing.”

Jeffrey Wright will also come back as host Bernard Lowe/Arnold Weber. On the other hand, Jimmi Simpson, who plays young William, earlier said that he is done with the show. But he changed his tune much later. “Well, you know. Nothing's permanent. I'm not contracted to go back, but I'm sure there's a possibility,” he told The Hollywood Reporter.

Shannon Woodward, who plays Elsie, and Luke Hemsworth’s Ashley Stubbs, are also slated to return.

“Westworld” Season 2 will return to HBO in 2018.