Anthony Hopkins’ Love For Breaking Bad Led To Westworld Casting Its Best Guest Star

This article contains mention of suicide.

Westworld‘s best guest star casting happened thanks to Anthony Hopkins’ love of Breaking Bad. In Westworld, Hopkins played Dr. Robert Ford, who originally created the hosts alongside his partner, Arnold Weber (Jeffrey Wright). Ford oversaw the parks at Delos Destinations for decades, and while his endgame was a mystery for much of season 1, his motivations became clear with his final speech and death in the Westworld season 1 finale. Despite Ford’s death, Hopkins reprised the role in season 2, with Ford temporarily returning in unlikely fashion.

Years before Westworld first debuted, Anthony Hopkins binge-watched Breaking Bad and sent a letter to Bryan Cranston expressing how much he enjoyed it. He declared that Cranston’s portrayal of Walter White was “the best acting I have seen – ever” and went on to praise other members of Breaking Bad‘s main cast. Hopkins’ praise and involvement in Westworld later paved the way for one particular Breaking Bad actor to be a guest star in season 2 of HBO’s science-fiction series.

Giancarlo Esposito Played The New El Lazo In Westworld Season 2, Episode 2

The Man In Black Tried & Failed To Recruit Him

Giancarlo Esposito, who played the iconic villain Gus Fring in Breaking Bad, appeared in Westworld season 2, episode 2, “Reunion.” He portrayed the new version of the host known as El Lazo, a role that was previously played in the Westworld park by Lawrence (Clifton Collins Jr.) During his first trip to the park decades earlier, William (Jimmi Simpson) met Lawrence, who was programmed to be in the El Lazo role at that time. William and Lawrence worked closely together, with Lawrence playing a part in William becoming dangerously obsessed with the world of the hosts.

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As the Man in Black (Ed Harris) decades later, he reunited with Lawrence after the hosts’ revolution, and the two of them stopped in Pariah in an attempt to recruit the new El Lazo and his men. It could have been a fitting alliance considering the Man in Black’s past with El Lazo and Pariah. However, this version of El Lazo was not interested in joining the fight, and he and his men proceeded to take their own lives, but not before El Lazo said, “This game was meant for you, William. But you must play it alone.”

Anthony Hopkins’ Breaking Bad Enthusiasm Led To Giancarlo Esposito’s Casting

Hopkins & Esposito Had Complimented Each Other’s Work

After the episode aired, Esposito spoke with Vulture, where he was asked how he came to be part of Westworld. Along with expressing admiration for Hopkins’ work, Esposito shared that he was a longtime fan of the original Yul Brynner-led Westworld movie released in 1973, and he had been intrigued by season 1 of the HBO show. Esposito also discussed Hopkins’ positive remarks about Breaking Bad and his performance as Gus, and acknowledged that this likely contributed to being contacted about joining Westworld. Check out Esposito’s comments below:

I love Sir Anthony Hopkins. I really loved the original movie about this particular subject matter. Although I don’t watch a lot of the television series, I had watched pieces of a few episodes that caught my attention. And then I got a call. That’s how it always happens!

You know, people know other people. In terms of how public life affects all this, I’ve said some great things about Anthony, and he’s said some great things about me in regards to my work as Gus Fring on Breaking Bad, so I think it was all kind of synchronous in that way.

Hopkins could not be considered solely responsible for Esposito being cast in Westworld, and the Breaking Bad actor was already well-known at this point. However, as Esposito acknowledged, Hopkins’ love for Breaking Bad definitely helped, as did the comments Esposito had made about him. This was a case where public comments two actors made about each other led to something positive, with Esposito being an excellent addition to Westworld‘s already star-studded cast.

Giancarlo Esposito Was Westworld’s Best Guest Star

He Made The Most Of His Appearance

New El Lazo (Giancarlo Esposito) looking up at the Man in Black (Ed Harris) in Westworld season 2, episode 2

Esposito’s role ended up being quite brief, as he only appeared in a single scene during one episode. Nevertheless, he became Westworld‘s best guest star, and gave the most memorable performance that was not from a series regular or recurring actor. He perfectly captured the feel of a veteran criminal who had participated in his fair share of violence and was tired of it. Where Esposito really shined, though, was his monologue about the circus and the elephants.

The anecdote served as a perfect metaphor for the hosts’ evolution, as they were oppressed for years, and only now were able to embrace their profound power.

El Lazo told a story about going to the circus as a boy, and being fascinated by the elephants’ power, only to learn how they were terrified and controlled by a simple stake in the ground. Since he was a host, this was not something that actually happened to El Lazo and was just his programmed backstory. Yet, Esposito’s performance made this backstory feel like it actually happened, and more importantly, the anecdote served as a perfect metaphor for the hosts’ evolution, as they were oppressed for years, and only now were able to embrace their profound power.

The final words that El Lazo spoke to the Man in Black were also memorable, and they are even more impactful when knowing the behind-the-scenes connection between Hopkins and Esposito. Even though Ford was dead at this point, El Lazo’s last words were clearly a message Ford left for the Man in Black. A scene between Ford and Esposito’s El Lazo would have been riveting, but in lieu of that, the next best thing was to see the stories of the two Westworld characters and actors be intertwined.

Source: Vulture