HBO isn't done with Dolores and the gang just yet. The premium cable channel has renewed Westworld for season 4. This announcement comes ahead of the show's upcoming season 3 finale, which signals that the network has quite a bit of confidence in creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy.

Westworld season 3 debuted on March 15 and has done well for HBO in the ratings department, with the first episode nabbing 1.7 million total viewers across the network's various platforms. Two episodes remain in the third season, with the finale set to air on May 3. For now, there is no word on how soon work could begin on season 4, but much is up in the air right now given the ongoing production shutdown in Hollywood. Casey Bloys, president of HBO Programming had this to say about it in a statement.

"From the Western theme park to the technocratic metropolis of the near future, we've thoroughly enjoyed every twist and turn from the minds of master storytellers Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy. We can't wait to see where their inspired vision takes us next."

The news was also confirmed by the show's Twitter account, with a motion poster featuring the title and the Roman number "IV" above it. Westworld debuted in October 2016 and served as an adaptation of the Michael Chrichton movie of the same name from 1973. HBO has allowed the show's creators to take their time crafting each season, with a nearly two-year break between season 2 and season 3. So it's not hard to imagine a long wait for season 4 at this point. With Game of Thrones wrapping up its run last year, Westworld essentially became the crown jewel of HBO's programming lineup. With that, the renewal makes a great deal of sense.

Returning cast members for season 3 include Evan Rachel Wood as Dolores, Thandie Newton as Maeve, Ed Harris as the Man in Black, Jeffrey Wright as Bernard, Tessa Thompson as Charlotte Hale, Luke Hemsworth as Stubbs, Simon Quarterman as Lee Sizemore and Rodrigo Santoro as Hector Escaton. This season brought in newcomers as well, most notably former Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul. Other additions this season include Vincent Cassel, Lena Waithe, Kid Cudi, Marshawn Lynch, John Gallagher Jr., Michael Ealy and Tommy Flanagan. It's not clear at this time which cast members will be returning next season.

The announcement comes just after the launch date for HBO Max was announced. WarnerMedia's high profile new streaming service is set to launch on May 27. To compete with the likes of Netflix and Disney+, the service will need original content that can attract subscribers. Keeping an established hit show on the books for at least one more season is certainly a good start. We'll be sure to keep you posted as further details on Westworld's return are made available. This news was previously reported by Variety.