Back To The Future(world): Where Could 'Westworld' Visit Next?

Fans of #HBO's #Westworld will know that the expansive world of Delos doesn't just revolve around Dolores and co.. Michael Crichton's 1973 film established that there are whole other theme park worlds, meaning that the wealthy aren't just confined to blowing the brains out of brothel madams in a great American Adventure. We had Romanworld, Medievalworld, Futureworld, and Spaworld for the discerning guest.

Not that I don't love the rocky backdrop of Westworld, but the thought that there is more out there is mouthwateringly good. Jimmi Simpson, who plays William on the show, promises that the Season 1 finale will have us begging for more:

"What they’ve done is they’ve somehow tied up everything you wanted to know and then pointed this whole world of other s–t that you hadn’t really thought of that now you really, really want to know, too."

Tin foil time, could this whole other world actually be another "world"? When Ford and Theresa discuss the noise complaints from the park's neighbors, some saw it is a joke, others saw it as the literal neighbors. If there are those next to Westworld, then chances are it could be another park. We forget that outside of Westworld there is sure to be a north, east, and south. But what else is lurking out there beyond the dusty plains and quick-draw gun battles? Here are 10 other parks we could visit!

1. Romanworld

Westworld Season 1 already had a grand scale, so the only way to top it is to go even bigger. We have only scratched the surface of how big the park actually is, but undoubtedly there is more out there. What is bigger than an entire empire of history to tackle? Coming straight from the original Westworld film, just imagine this season's orgy scene but played out for an entire run of episodes — that would pretty much be what a trip to Romanworld would involve.

Thankfully this wouldn't be the first time that HBO has tackled the reign of Caesar. Running from 2005 to 2007, Rome was the network's empire epic that was cancelled for being notoriously expensive. Given that the reported Westworld budget was $100 million for the first season, it looks like money is no longer an issue when it comes to the network these days.

2. Medievalworld

Another taste of history courtesy of the 1973 film, Medievalworld was the muddy getaway of sieges and sores, and who could pass up being knee-deep in mud as rats swarm around you? I would rather sit on a throne in Romanworld to be honest, but Crichton still included it.

Alongside some well placed Roman-esque masks, we may have already seen a hint of Medievalworld on the show. As the doomed Elsie is looking for the receiver in Episode 6, the inclusion of a suit of armor in the background implies that indeed Medievalworld is out there. We already know that #GameOfThrones author George R.R. Martin has expressed his interest in a show crossover (I'm not convinced it would work either). With only two (shortened) seasons of the Song of Ice and Fire remaining, we need some way to put the Thrones costumes to good use, after all, what is HBO going to do with all those leftover swords?

3. Futureworld

It is a given that at some point we will logically visit Futureworld — the idea was so large it even had its own 1976 sequel ironically named Futureworld. Following the Westworld incident, and a $1.5 billion investment, the park reopened. Among the new areas are Futureworld, where you board a simulated space station and live out your dreams of being an astronaut.

A similar idea of being in a non-orbiting space station was covered in Syfy's short-lived Ascension, where the crew of the USS Ascension find out that there entire existence is an elaborate experiment.

Westworld has already established itself as being technologically advanced, and as it is presumably set in the future, why not go a little further afield? If it costs $40k a day to visit Westworld, imagine the costs of pretending you are in space. The spaceship/space station idea may have been done to death, but at least we know it is popular, and it is one of the few genres HBO is yet to tackle.

4. Spaworld

Returning to the Futureworld for the last "official" park in the world of Delos (for now). A new addition to Futureworld and the larger park was Spaworld, a place where old age and sickness had been eradicated. However, has the show already hinted at this? In the pilot episode Dr. Ford says:

“We’ve managed to slip evolution’s leash now, haven’t we? We can cure any disease, keep even the weakest of us alive."

We also know that Ed Harris's Man in Black is some sort of humanitarian in "real life." Harris meets a fellow park patron who says that MIB's company cured his sick sister. The implication is that the idea of sickness no longer exists in the world outside Westworld, and that something cured it. We already live in a culture obsessed with spa days, botox, and surgery, so HBO could take the idea one step further with the ultimate health retreat.

5. Warworld

Now we are going off-piste for where you might want to visit next. For another look at how HBO does great shows, turn to Band of Brothers, the 10-part battle bromance. War epics may have dipped in appeal in recent years, but Mel Gibson's #HacksawRidge is set to reignite the spark.

Why on Earth would you want to voluntarily throw yourself into the trenches though? Imagine the adrenaline rush of serving your country, but without the fear of being blown to Kingdom Come. You can already see the popularity of shooting games and the likes of Call of Duty, so don't pretend that the sadistic gamer inside wouldn't like to experience it first hand in the next stage of VR gaming. Harris could even return as the surly drill sergeant sending us into battle.

6. Pirateworld

Ya'har, channel some serious Cap'n Jack for a jolly good rogering. Water-based adventures are possibly the most expensive of them all, so would the show really take us for an adventure on the high seas? We are talking some serious money, even by HBO standards.

The first season of Westworld has proven that they know how to do ruthless outlaws, and no one is more ruthless than scurvy pirates. The true way to show how big a Delos theme park can be is to set the cast on a never-ending voyage into open waters. Treasure maps and dotted villages to pillage, it is every young boy's dream. There could however be one small safety issue for guests: What if one of them falls overboard? Health and safety would never approve this one.

7. Egyptianworld

Similar to the Romanworld idea, let's go back a bit further to ancient Egypt and another Westworld-esque sand-based adventure. Gods of Egypt aside, Egypt gives us some amazing action/adventure films, and the upcoming Mummy reboot hopes to capitalize on that. Just as long as Brendan Fraser doesn't join Westworld, this idea could actually be a great one.

We aren't too on board with the idea of slavery, but lording it up as Pharaoh for the day, or having pyramids erected in your honor sounds pretty cool. Instead of the tired "buried treasure" spiel from Westworld, go look for actual Egyptian gold, discover tombs, or simply sail down the Nile. All the greatness of Egypt without the modern traffic jams around Cairo.

8. Mobworld

If playing king of a long-lost civilization doesn't appeal, how about being your own crime boss? Take your pick here from either HBO's The Sopranos or Boardwalk Empire on how to do a great mob piece, but personally I would take a trip to Atlantic City and pretend we are in Bonnie and Clyde.

The network trod the boards of the '20s and '30s for five glorious seasons of gratuitous nudity and violence — all sounds right up Westworld's street. The thrill of living in Prohibition times, drive-by gang shootings, and guests hopping between speakeasies to the roaring sound of jazz. Grab your tux and mix up a manhattan, Mobworld is the classier cousin of Westworld.

9. Jungleworld

The first season of Westworld has given us a few glimpses of the robotic animals roaming around, but we demand to see more — save the planet and all that. So, if you imagine yourself as a David Attenborough, head on down to Jungleworld.

Unlock the secrets of lost tribes, fight off against vicious poachers, or just enjoy some good ol' racist colonialism. With the sequel/reboot of Jumanji coming soon, this year's Tarzan, and the return of Kong, jungle epics couldn't be bigger. Planet Earth II is one of the best shows to grace our screens this year, so take a tour around the globe with Delos.

10. Prisonworld

Other than a sprawling olde worlde epic, if HBO knows how to do something right, it is a gritty prison drama. We have seen the handling of mafiosa families, but the network was always strongest when it took the crimes behind bars. Before Thrones or Westworld, Oz ruled the roost for six seasons.

Why anyone would want to visit a prison theme park is beyond me, but look at how many people go to visit Alcatraz every year. Also, if the Stanford Prison Experiment taught us anything, it is that some people have a sick mind when it comes to the justice system. Guests are treated to striped jumpsuits and fed budget slop — you could even get really meta by having Harold Perrineau narrate the whole thing. Prisonworld would not be one for the faint-hearted guests.

Given the source material, it would seem a shame to keep the premise tethered to one place for five or six seasons of Westworld. Oh Jonathan Nolan, you clever old fox — HBO's catalog of shows has slowly been building up to Westworld: Rome takes up the spot of Romanworld, while the sword-swinging Game of Thrones fills in for Medievalworld. We are of course joking, but from the man that had a hand in The Prestige and Inception, anything is possible.

However, if we do move out of Westworld, we then face the problem of "what do you even call the show?" but Prison Break continued long after it was ever in a prison.

For now though, we are hitching our horses to the wild, wild West. Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy are keen to play down the idea that we will ever move out of Westworld, even telling Comic-Con, "You said Roman World and Medieval World, right? No." Bear in mind that this was only when questioned about Season 2, and while they were quick to dismiss Romanworld and Medievalworld, it doesn't exclude other places. Grab your passport and watch this space, mindf*ucks a plenty when Westworld returns.