The minds behind Westworld explain what the mysterious robot seen in the trailer is – and what it means for the show. When the season 2 trailer for Westworld debuted during the Super Bowl, there was a lot to process. While many fans were curious about the new-looking white figure behind Bernard/Arnold in one shot, that was quickly swept aside by the promise of answers about season 1. The finale ended in a robot uprising, after all, and questions regarding the Man in Black and Dolores have taken precedent in the lead up to the new season.


As we fast approach the premiere of Westworld season 2, we’re learning more and more about what to expect this year. Earlier today, we found out which characters are returning to Westworld. Turns out, many of the humans and hosts will be back, though not all in the best of circumstances. We’ll even further explore the young Ford and learn how Delos came to be. But as promotion continues for season 2, we actually now know what that white robot is and what it may be meant for.


EW spoke with Westworld showrunner Jonathan Nolan about the white robot from the trailer, and it turns out its known as a ‘drone host.’ And if that sounds like it may have a military application, Nolan seems to confirm that season 2 will see Delos move beyond mere entertainment.

“The drone hosts relate to the corporation’s secret project which is hidden in plain sight in this park. As we talked about in the pilot, the park is one thing for the guests, and it’s another thing for its shareholders and management — something completely different. We’ve used the Google analogy — for consumers, it’s for search and email, yet for the company, it’s for advertising. There is an agenda here that Delos has undertaken for a very long time. As Bernard is making his way through the wreckage of the fallout from the first season, he’s discovering things about the park that even he doesn’t know and coming upon creatures like the drone host.

As Nolan states, few technology companies operate in the same manner both publicly and privately. With the highly advanced AI Delos has access to – not to mention what hosts can be augmented with – it makes sense they’d soon move beyond catering to tourists. But given how much damage the renegade hosts did once they became sentient, the idea of a more militarized robot doesn’t bode well.


We learned in the character breakdowns today that Delos employees like Hughes, Hale, and Sizemore will all start seeing an uglier side of the park. And the ominous shot of the drone host behind Jeffrey Wright’s character in the trailer certainly plays into this idea. Westworld at its core is all about personhood and what makes something human, and in that it’s a series willing to explore morality and violence to a strong degree. With the drone hosts coming to Westworld the show and park, season 2 may be more brutal than anything we’ve seen so far.