Westworld season 4 starts shooting “soon”

In the latest issue of British Vogue, Westworld star Thandiwe Newton (Maeve Millay) explained how her name had been misspelled as “Thandie” in her first credited film role, that it stuck, and that now she was making sure she would be credited with her proper name going forward. “That’s my name. It’s always been my name. I’m taking back what’s mine.”

The name “Thandiwe” (pronounced “Tan-dee-we”) means “beloved” in the Zulu language, and comes from her mother’s Zimbabwean roots. “The thing I’m most grateful for in our business right now is being in the company of others who truly see me,” Newton said. “And to not be complicit in the objectification of Black people as ‘others’, which is what happens when you’re the only one.”

"I love how subversive (Westworld) is. Wherever I position myself now, I don’t want to be part of the problem, I want to be part of the solution. I’m not for hire anymore. I’m not going to speak your story or say your words if I don’t feel they could’ve come from me."

Newton has gotten a very positive response to her announcement, with one Westworld fan even working a Westworld-style “W” into her name in an image she reposted to her Instagram, complete with some new information about the long-in-coming fourth season of the series:

“Aaaaah this made me smile today,” Newton wrote. “Maeve – how can I ever thank her? By playing the sh*t out of her that’s how. Season 4 starts shooting soon.”

What will happen with Maeve in Westworld season 4?

Westworld has gained a reputation for transforming itself every season. The first season was set in the titular theme part where Newton, Evan Rachel Wood and others played advanced robots — or “hosts” — designed to engage with human guests. The second season saw the hosts gain sentience and rise up in rebellion, while the third saw them break out into the real world where Dolores toppled the algorithmic system keeping everyone in line, setting up yet another shift for season 4.

“I have no idea what they have planned for me,” Newton said during a discussion at The Paley Center for Media. “I’m teamed with Tessa [Thompson], I know. Hopefully, we can do some rightful damage.”

Tessa Thompson plays Charlotte Hale…sorta. She actually plays a host designed to look like Charlotte Hale who actually has the brain of Dolores, Even Rachel Wood’s character. (Everything is confusing on this show.) At the end of the third season, it looked like Hale was manufacturing hosts as part of a nefarious plan to take over the world, which may bring her directly into conflict with Maeve.

“Oh, there’s definitely something going on there. Definitely,” Newton told Deadline a while back. “I mean I say definitely but I’m just a fan, like try to imagine. But yeah, I mean, Hale, is fascinating to me now, as an extension of Dolores. I mean, it’s really interesting, isn’t it? It’s like the apple falling far from the tree and all that. It is really interesting that Dolores has spawned these children basically because they very quickly separate themselves from her.”

When will Westworld season 4 air?

Westworld usually takes long breaks between seasons. The first came out in 2016, the second in 2018, and the third last year in 2020. The pandemic couldn’t have sped anything up, but with shooting about to begin, hopefully we won’t be waiting any later than 2022.

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h/t ComicBook.com