(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.
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.
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"
Photographed by Benjo Arwas for TheWrap
Stylist: Tiffani Chynel
Stylist Assistant: Yesenia Cuevas
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"
Photographed by Benjo Arwas for TheWrap
Grooming by Barbara Guillaume using Blackwood
Stylist: Tiffani Chynel
Stylist Assistant: Yesenia Cuevas
JIMMI
Suit: Lucky Brand
Sweater: All Saints
Bruno Magli boots
Jimmi Simpson, "Westworld"
Photographed by Benjo Arwas for TheWrap
Grooming by Barbara Guillaume using Blackwood
Stylist: Tiffani Chynel
Stylist Assistant: Yesenia Cuevas
JIMMI
Suit: Lucky Brand
Sweater: All Saints
Bruno Magli boots
Jimmi Simpson, "Westworld"
Photographed by Benjo Arwas for TheWrap
Grooming by Barbara Guillaume using Blackwood
Stylist: Tiffani Chynel
Stylist Assistant: Yesenia Cuevas
JIMMI
Suit: Lucky Brand
Sweater: All Saints
Bruno Magli boots
Jimmi Simpson, "Westworld"
Photographed by Benjo Arwas for TheWrap
Grooming by Barbara Guillaume using Blackwood
Stylist: Tiffani Chynel
Stylist Assistant: Yesenia Cuevas
JIMMI
Suit: Lucky Brand
Sweater: All Saints
Bruno Magli boots
Jimmi Simpson, "Westworld"
Photographed by Benjo Arwas for TheWrap
Grooming by Barbara Guillaume using Blackwood
Stylist: Tiffani Chynel
Stylist Assistant: Yesenia Cuevas
JIMMI
Suit: Lucky Brand
Sweater: All Saints
Bruno Magli boots
Jimmi Simpson and Simon Quarterman, "Westworld"
Photographed by Benjo Arwas for TheWrap
Stylist: Tiffani Chynel
Stylist Assistant: Yesenia Cuevas
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"
Photographed by Benjo Arwas for TheWrap
Grooming by Heather Rae using IGK
Stylist: Tiffani Chynel
Stylist Assistant: Yesenia Cuevas
SIMON
Suit: Strong Suit
Shirt: Strong Suit
Shoe: Bruno Magli
Simon Quarterman, "Westworld"
Photographed by Benjo Arwas for TheWrap
Grooming by Heather Rae using IGK
Stylist: Tiffani Chynel
Stylist Assistant: Yesenia Cuevas
SIMON
Suit: Strong Suit
Shirt: Strong Suit
Shoe: Bruno Magli
Simon Quarterman, "Westworld"
Photographed by Benjo Arwas for TheWrap
Grooming by Heather Rae using IGK
Stylist: Tiffani Chynel
Stylist Assistant: Yesenia Cuevas
SIMON
Sweater: John Varvatos, Bloomingdales Beverly Center
Jacket: John Varvatos
Jeans: Rag and bone, Bloomingdales Beverly Center
Boots: H London
Simon Quarterman, "Westworld"
Photographed by Benjo Arwas for TheWrap
Grooming by Heather Rae using IGK
Stylist: Tiffani Chynel
Stylist Assistant: Yesenia Cuevas
SIMON
Sweater: John Varvatos, Bloomingdales Beverly Center
Jacket: John Varvatos
Jeans: Rag and bone, Bloomingdales Beverly Center
Boots: H London
Simon Quarterman, "Westworld"
Photographed by Benjo Arwas for TheWrap
Grooming by Heather Rae using IGK
Stylist: Tiffani Chynel
Stylist Assistant: Yesenia Cuevas
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