The hosts are coming.
Westworld Season 2 is set to premiere Sunday, April 22, and as its in-universe world expands, so does the show's cast.
Thirteen new actors are confirmed to join the series in Season 2, along with 19 returning cast members, whom HBO confirmed today: Evan Rachel Wood as Dolores, Thandie Newton as Maeve, Ed Harris as Man in Black, Jeffrey Wright as Bernard, James Marsden as Teddy, Tessa Thompson as Charlotte, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal as Armistice, Clifton Collins Jr. as Lawrence, Luke Hemsworth as Stubbs, Louis Herthum as Peter Abernathy, Simon Quarterman as Lee Sizemore, Talulah Riley as Angela, Rodrigo Santoro as Hector Escaton, Angela Sarafyan as Clementine, Shannon Woodward as Elsie, Ben Barnes as Logan, Jimmi Simpson as William, Leonardo Nam as Felix Lutz, and Ptolemy Slocum as Sylvester.
As for the new faces headed into the world's deadliest theme park, we're breaking down everyone you need to be familiar with ahead of the premiere.
Grace (Katja Herbers)
In July of 2017, The Leftovers alum Herbers joined the cast of Westworld Season 2 in the role of Grace, a "seasoned guest in Westworld whose latest visit comes at the park’s darkest hour," according to Deadline.
Nicholas (Neil Jackson)
Jackson (of Sleepy Hollow fame) will play "a charming and resourceful man who finds himself in uncharted territory." Another Westworld guest, perhaps? Note that Jackson is the only actor not included in HBO's official list of cast newcomers.
Major Craddock (Jonathan Tucker)
The description for American Gods alum Tucker's character is brief—simply "a commanding military officer"—indicating the secretive nature of this role. It's unclear whether Craddock is a human sent into Westworld to deal with the now-conscious hosts, or a host involved in Dolores' rebellion.
Maling (Betty Gabriel)
Get Out breakout Gabriel has a recurring role as Maling, whom Variety describes as "trying to restore order on the ground." Her character can be seen in promotional photos for Season 2 (above). With her military-esque gear and weapon setup, it's safe to assume she's she's part of the team working to quell the hosts' revolt.
Karl Strand (Gustaf Skarsgård)
Another mysterious new role is that of Karl Strand, "a white-collar guy comfortable in the field." He appears to be working on Maling's team, and he's played by Vikings star Gustaf Skarsgård (yes, son of Stellan and brother of Alexander and Bill).
Antoine Costa (Fares Fares)
The Zero Dark Thirty actor plays "a tech expert" named Antoine Costa.
James Delos (Peter Mullan)
Ozark and Top of the Lake actor Mullan will play James Delos, the founder of Westworld's parent company, Delos Incorporated. His headshot appears on the Delos Inc. website along with a description of the company. These are the passages that describe James:
Decades ago, a man had an idea as old as human ambition itself, that the only limit to progress is imagination. The ability to see a better world. Delos Inc. was formed from that goal and nothing else, because James had nothing else. He used to joke that where he grew up, having dreams was like fighting gravity. But he never lost faith that his dream could take off, and now Delos is more than a name. It’s a legacy.
We think of gravity as an unstoppable force, but really, it’s the curvature of the fabric of our universe. It’s our environment, our natural guard rails. James rode along its skews and contours and we haven’t slowed down since, rolling past physical limitations with technologies that reach people in every corner of the world.
It will be interesting to see whether James' storyline takes place in the past, with the founding of Delos, or the present, as the hosts rebel.
Musashi (Hiroyuki Sanada)
Another mysterious role is that of Musashi, played by veteran actor Hiroyuki Sanada. (You've seen him in TV shows like Lost and Revenge and movies such as The Wolverine and The Last Samurai).
Akane (Rinko Kikuchi)
Oscar-nominated actress Kikuchi will play Akane, EW reports. Her character briefly appeared in the most recent Season 2 trailer in a tease of Shogun World, where she appears as a geisha. (She appears at 2:12.)
Hanaryo (Tao Okamoto)
Hannibal and The Man in the High Castle actress Okamoto plays the secretive role of Hanaryo.
Kohana (Julia Jones)
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 and 2 star Jones takes on yet another mysterious role: Kohana.
Sakura (Kiki Sukezane)
Sukezane, of Heroes Reborn fame, will play Sakura in Westworld Season 2.
Akecheta (Zahn McClarnon)
Fargo star McClarnon will take on the role of Akecheta. EW surmises he appears as a member of Ghost Nation in the official Season 2 trailer:
But, to complicate things, he also appears at a cocktail party in the secret "trailer within the trailer" fans uncovered last week (you can read more about that here).
Yes, we're just as confused as you are. All will be revealed when Westworld returns Sunday, April 22 at 9 PM EST on HBO.
