“Westworld” is only the latest project from Warner Bros. to get the can as its firebrand CEO David Zaslav seeks to pare down the company’s offerings in a zero-sum gambit for the studio’s bottom line. After WB canceled the nearly-completed “Batgirl” film in August, streaming-exclusive movies such as “Moonshot” and “American Pickle” began to vanish from HBO Max, the company’s flagship streaming service. The Hollywood Reporter raised similar concerns while noting that, according to insiders, Zaslav’s cost-cutting spree was not the cause of the “Westworld” cancelation. As pointed out by Variety, Zaslav’s stated goal is to save the company $3.5 billion in cost-saving synergies.
“Westworld” was an admittedly expensive venture, with the Film LA Television Report from 2019 asserting that the series almost certainly exceeded $100 million per season. It employed high-profile actors such as Aaron Paul, Evan Rachel Wood, Jeffrey Wright, and James Marsden. All four existing seasons are currently streaming on HBO Max.
