‘Westworld’ Season 2: How Jimmi Simpson Slowly Became Ed Harris (Exclusive Video)

Actor tells TheWrap co-creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy gave him “study materials” for some “extra Ed”

| April 22, 2018 @ 11:00 AM

(Spoiler alert: Please do not read ahead unless you’ve seen all of Season 1 of “Westworld.”)

You know what’s old news to “Westworld” fans at this point? The revelation that William (Jimmi Simpson) and the Man in Black (Ed Harris) are the same person.

You know what isn’t? How the heck the sweet young character we saw in Season 1 ever became the seasoned park veteran who wants to play the darkest game Westworld has to offer.

Ahead of the Season 2 premiere, TheWrap thought we should get a jump on picking apart this plot point by turning to Simpson. He figured out the twist just a few episodes into the first installment due to some “manscaping” requests to make him look more like Harris.

Also Read: Watch 'Westworld' Panel at Tribeca Film Festival Awkwardly End Right After Cringeworthy Fan Question (Video)

Going into their sophomore year, Simpson said he’s mirroring Harris’ behavior “quite a bit more, as the two characters start to get closer together to be that one man. And Lisa Joy and Jonah Nolan, the creators, they have been — they kind of facilitate everything you need. So, they gave me some ‘extra Ed’ to get into. And they are always ahead of me. Normally I’m the one preparing by myself and these two are like, ‘Here are your study materials.'”

Simpson also “dared” TheWrap to ask him about our chances of seeing William with James Delos — who is presumably going to be William’s father-in-law if he did go forward and marry Logan’s (Ben Barnes) sister Juliet — and a Young Arnold this season, as we flashback to the early days of Westworld and Delos Destinations.

“If all that is the case, that is so,” Simpson said, after we set up the longest possible, roundabout way of posing the question.

Also Read: 'Westworld' Creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy's New Sci-Fi Series 'The Peripheral' Lands at Amazon

OK, so we didn’t trick him into confirming, but he “applauded” the effort.

Watch the clip above.

“Westworld” Season 2 premieres tonight at 9/8 c on HBO.

'Westworld' Stars Jimmi Simpson and Simon Quarterman Portraits (Exclusive Photos)

  • Jimmi Simpson and Simon Quarterman, Westworld SIMON Sweater: John Varvatos, Bloomingdales Beverly Center Jacket: John Varvatos Jeans: Rag and bone, Bloomingdales Beverly Center Boots: H London JIMMI Shirt: John Varvatos Jacket: John Varvatos Jeans: John Varvatos Shoe:: Nike
  • Jimmi Simpson, Westworld JIMMI Suit: Lucky Brand Sweater: All Saints Bruno Magli boots
  • Jimmi Simpson, Westworld JIMMI Suit: Lucky Brand Sweater: All Saints Bruno Magli boots
  • Jimmi Simpson, Westworld JIMMI Suit: Lucky Brand Sweater: All Saints Bruno Magli boots
  • Jimmi Simpson, Westworld JIMMI Suit: Lucky Brand Sweater: All Saints Bruno Magli boots
  • Jimmi Simpson, Westworld JIMMI Suit: Lucky Brand Sweater: All Saints Bruno Magli boots
  • Jimmi Simpson and Simon Quarterman, Westworld SIMON Sweater: John Varvatos, Bloomingdales Beverly Center Jacket: John Varvatos Jeans: Rag and bone, Bloomingdales Beverly Center Boots: H London JIMMI Shirt: John Varvatos Jacket: John Varvatos Jeans: John Varvatos Shoe:: Nike
  • Simon Quarterman, Westworld SIMON Suit: Strong Suit Shirt: Strong Suit Shoe: Bruno Magli
  • Simon Quarterman, Westworld SIMON Suit: Strong Suit Shirt: Strong Suit Shoe: Bruno Magli
  • Simon Quarterman, Westworld SIMON Sweater: John Varvatos, Bloomingdales Beverly Center Jacket: John Varvatos Jeans: Rag and bone, Bloomingdales Beverly Center Boots: H London
  • Simon Quarterman, Westworld SIMON Sweater: John Varvatos, Bloomingdales Beverly Center Jacket: John Varvatos Jeans: Rag and bone, Bloomingdales Beverly Center Boots: H London
  • Simon Quarterman, Westworld SIMON Suit: Strong Suit Shirt: Strong Suit Shoe: Bruno Magli
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Actors stop by TheWrap studios for an interview and photo shoot

Jimmi Simpson and Simon Quarterman, "Westworld"

Photographed by Benjo Arwas for TheWrap

Stylist: Tiffani Chynel

Stylist Assistant: Yesenia Cuevas

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