HBO’s Westworld is one of the best new shows of the fall and while much of its early success can be attributed to its thought-provoking premise, it’s arguably the large cast of colorful, interesting characters that have been Westworld’s biggest strength so far in its early going. By far the most mysterious and fascinating of the bunch is Ed Harris’ Man in Black, a badass gunslinger who has seemingly mastered Westworld in a way no other character has.
A charismatic cowboy on a mission, the Man in Black has captivated viewers primarily because he is the show’s biggest wild card, which is saying something when it feels like most of the other characters fit that description in some way. Now four episodes into its first season, we don’t actually know all that much about Westworld’s best character but what we do know he feels important nonetheless. Here’s every detail worth knowing about the Man in Black that has been revealed so far.
He’s Based On The Gunslinger From The Original Westworld
Fans of Michael Crichton’s original 1973 movie, on which Westworld the TV series is based, probably noticed the similarities between the Man in Black and Yul Brynner’s Gunslinger character right away. They both wear dark clothing meant to represent their darker personalities, they’re both antagonists, and they’re both played by super talented actors. Of course, there are quite a few differences, most notably that one is a machine and the other is a human (or is he? You can never be quite sure on this show.) The Gunslinger is also portrayed as a Terminator-esque machine of death and while the Man in Black is certainly capable of doling out his own brand of death and destruction, there appears to be a much deeper meaning to his actions.