HBO has given a pilot order for a remake of the 1973 cult classic sci-fi thriller Westworld, and it comes with some pretty impressive behind-the-scenes talent.  J.J. Abrams will executive produce the pilot alongside his Bad Robot partner Bryan Burk, and The Dark Knight scribe Jonathan Nolan will co-write and direct the pilot.  The original film was written and directed by author Michael Crichton and starred Yul Brynner as an android in a futuristic Western-themed amusement park.  Per Variety, the HBO iteration of the story is described as “a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin.”

Nolan, who currently acts as showrunner on the CBS series Person of Interest, will mark his second time directing with Westworld, as he previously helmed an episode of the CBS series.  He was previously rumored to be in contention to direct Warner Bros.’ Man of Steel, produced by his brother Christopher Nolan, but that job eventually went to Zack Snyder.  Hit the jump for more on the potential Westworld series.

Variety reports that Nolan is also acting as executive producer on HBO’s Westworld pilot, as is Jerry Weintraub, who produced the Ocean’s trilogy and Steven Soderbergh’s HBO film Behind the Candelabra.  Joining him as co-writer on Westworld will be Pushing Dasies alum Lisa Joy.

While this Westworld pilot certainly comes with an impressive pedigree, we’ve learned in the past that a talented crew doesn’t necessarily guarantee a greenlight to series from HBO.  Noah Baumbach shot a pilot for The Corrections with Ewan McGregor, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Greta Gerwig that the network ultimately passed on.  That being said, a high-profile sci-fi project like Westworld would certainly fit in nicely alongside HBO’s fantasy series Game of Thrones.

Watch the trailer for the original movie below.

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