Westworld: Fun facts you may not know about the HBO series

What does Jurassic Park have to do with Westworld? How are Game of Thrones and Westworld connected? Get ready for some Westworld fun facts!

Westworld isn’t just a show that gives us intricate plots and convoluted storylines to decipher, even though it may feel this way. There is so much more to it that attracts from people all over the world and keeps us all captivated with every twist and turn.

But theories aside, Westworld has other things about it that fans may not know. Yes, that’s right! There are lots of fun facts and trivia that add to the allure and intrigue of the show, and we have a list of some of the most interesting ones.

Harpers Bazaar has gathered a list of fun facts about the series, and if we’re being honest, we didn’t know about most of them! For example, do you know which city the series was inspired by? Or the type of shots that were first used when the series began? Or what character from the original movie made an appearance on the show?

With so much to uncover and learn, let’s dive into some of the best-kept secrets (and maybe not so secret) about Westworld!

Las Vegas–yup, that’s right!

Westworld showrunners Jonathan and Lisa Joy Nolan found inspiration for the parks from Sin City. What elements did they take away from the lively city of Las Vegas? According to Harpers Bazaar, the consequence-free nature of the city inspired the Nolans to bring the same sentiment to the parks.

Guests visiting Westworld can get away with anything and everything, and while this isn’t exactly the case for Las Vegas, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas–right?

That Jurassic Park connection, though

This is a fairly well-known fact but for those that may not know, the Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton also wrote and directed the original 1973Westworld film. Ever notice the similarities between the two parks? Like when the park turns on guests and things go horribly wrong?

Looks like Crichton had a similar theme in mind, right?

Want to know something even cooler? There was a Jurassic Park quote in the first season when Felix is trying to fix a robotic bird and says “Come on little one!” John Hammond said this exact line in Jurassic Park when the Velicorapter egg hatched.

Are there any other connections between the two movies/novels that you picked up on? If so, be sure to share them with us in the comments!

Handheld camera shots were used for the first time in the season one finale

In the first season, the Nolan duo asked all of the directors not to utilize handheld shots until the finale. If you recall, the season 1 finale is when the hosts started to become aware and gain consciousness which kickstarted a whole new element to Westworld.

Two scenes in which these particular shots were used were when Maeve spots the younger girl while she’s trying to escape the park and then the other when Dolores is saved from the churchyard by Teddy.

One character from the 1973 original movie made a cameo

Have you seen the original Westworld film? If so, then you’ll know all about Yul Brynner’s gunslinger character! In the season 1 episode, “The Adversary”, Brynner’s character made a cameo in the basement scene where hundreds of hosts were stored.

It’s pretty impossible to spot him but if you take a super close look, then you just might find him! Check out the picture here!

The hosts were inspired by…

A car factory! While visiting a German car manufacturer, the Nolans saw the cars being dipped into and out of paint with robotic arms. This sparked the inspiration behind the Vitruvian man we see in the credits, as well as throughout the second season.

Another fun fact? The Vitruvian man is being dipped in Elmer’s glue in the opening credit!

Do you have any Westworld fun facts and/or trivia you’d like to share that we didn’t get to? Tell us in the comments below or on our Twitter, @BeyondWestworld.