{
  "id": 18934851,
  "title": "Westworld Spawned A Forgotten TV Sequel Series Decades Before HBO's Reboot",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/westworld-spawned-a-forgotten-tv-sequel-series-decades-before-hbos",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-08T12:12:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TVLine",
    "slug": "tvline",
    "url": "https://www.tvline.com/2305150/beyond-westworld-tv-sequel-series-before-hbo/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 1980, CBS aired a forgotten TV sequel to the 1973 movie \"Westworld,\" titled \"Beyond Westworld.\" The series, written and directed by Michael Crichton, starred Jim McMullan as the security chief of the corporation behind Westworld, tasked with stopping a rogue scientist. Despite its potential as a sci-fi spy series, CBS canceled the show after just three episodes due to rushed production and lack of character development. The show was nominated for two Emmy Awards, but lost both.",
  "summary": "These violent delights have violent ends, especially for Westworld shows. Between the HBO series and a forgotten '80s sequel, the franchise has bad luck on TV.",
  "key_points": [
    "\"Beyond Westworld\" aired in 1980 as a TV sequel to 1973 movie \"Westworld\".",
    "Written and directed by Michael Crichton, starred Jim McMullan.",
    "CBS canceled after three episodes due to production issues and character flaws."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}