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Anthony Hopkins in 'Westworld'

Anthony Hopkins talks 'Westworld,' the Joy of Working in TV

HaydnSpurrell HaydnSpurrell Anthony Hopkins has taken on some famous roles in his time, but now he's turned his attention to TV, with a direct-to-TV movie in the works on top of his role in HBO's upcoming sci-fi series Westworld.

"I’m enjoying the HBO work. I’d like to do another one with the BBC. Ian said he hopes they do more of these classic plays," Hopkins says of he and Ian McKellen's small-screen take on The Dresser, premiering on Starz May 30.

"I’ve enjoyed it," he says of Westworld. "Do you remember “Jurassic Park,” the Richard Attenborough guy? I play that kind of man. He runs Westworld. What’s interesting about doing TV this way is I never know where the story is going. I play Dr. Ford who’s built Westworld and all these robots. He has total control over everything. But I’m not sure which way it’s going. I’m just a man obsessed. I don’t play evil parts."

On working with McKellen for the stage-to-screen adaptation, Hopkins says that he had never worked with him before. " I’d seen him, I’d admired him. We were sociable, friendly. I’d gone backstage to see him in Iago. If we were at the National Theater together, we’d say hi. But we didn’t know each other. This was the best time of my life. He was a stunning actor to work with.

"Generous and kind. He did say to me, “I wasn’t sure how you were going to be. I thought maybe you’d be demanding.” It wasn’t at all gladiatorial (between us). If you admire someone, you have mutual respect for them. You get on with it."

The Dresser is adapted from Ronald Harwood's 1980 play set in World War II-era London that follows an aging actor struggling to prepare for his upcoming performance of King Lear. Westworld, meanwhile, has been announced for a fall of this year release.

Source: Variety

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