Abrams’ Westworld remake gets HBO order

US premium cabler HBO has confirmed a 10-episode order for a remake of 1970s sci-fi horror Western Westworld.

The one-hour drama project hails from writer Jonathan Nolan, brother of Hollywood director Christopher Nolan, and Lost and Fringe creator JJ Abrams.

Bad Robot Productions, Jerry Weintraub Productions and Kilter Films are working on the project in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Westworld is based on Michael Crichton’s feature film of the same name, which was set in a futuristic amusement park in which paying visitors pretend to be gunslingers and battle human looking robots, one of which malfunctions and becomes a killing machine.

The TV adaptation is billed as “a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin”.

Nolan, who also directed a pilot of the project, wrote the script along with Lisa Joy. The pair also executive produce along with Abrams, Jerry Weintraub and Bryan Burk. Kathy Lingg is co-executive producer.

An all-star cast includes Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, and Thandie Newton.

HBO announced the expected series order in a bizarre Vine video (above). It will debut next year.