Alexander Skarsgård stars in the sci-fi thriller Murderbot.
The upcoming series Murderbot on Apple TV+ dives into the story of a rogue cyborg security unit that gains autonomy and struggles to engage with humans while concealing its newfound freedom. This 10-episode sci-fi comedic thriller features Alexander Skarsgård and is adapted from the acclaimed Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. Initial glimpses from the trailer indicate a compelling mix of humor and action.
Martha Wells’ series comprises seven novels, all told from the perspective of Murderbot, a cyborg initially owned by a powerful megacorporation. Remarkably, it manages to hack its governor module, choosing not to exterminate its human overseers. Instead, Murderbot fulfills its security duties while enjoying a plethora of entertainment options to alleviate its monotony.
The journey begins in the first book, All Systems Red, where Murderbot rescues a scientific team on an alien planet from a giant extraterrestrial threat. Throughout the story, it uncovers a conspiracy against the expedition and another team plotting to eliminate competitors for undisclosed reasons. In the end, rather than surrender its hard-won autonomy, Murderbot escapes onto a cargo ship after helping thwart the lethal plots.
While specific details concerning the series’ fidelity to the source material remain scarce, the author has expressed her enthusiasm. Martha Wells stated that she was “really excited” upon reading the screenplay in 2021. The trailer hints that the first season will heavily draw from All Systems Red and maintain a light-hearted atmosphere. The official synopsis describes the show as a “sci-fi thriller/comedy about a self-hacking security construct who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients.” Skarsgård’s character, Murderbot, finds itself in a precarious situation where it must disguise its free will while completing a perilous assignment, all the while longing to be left alone to indulge in futuristic soap operas and discover its place in the universe.
The ensemble cast alongside Skarsgård features David Dastmalchian as Gurathin, Noma Dumezweni as Mensah, Sabrina Wu as Pin-Lee, Tattiawna Jones as Arada, Akshaye Khanna as Ratthi, and Tamara Podemski as Bharadwaj. Furthermore, John Cho is set to make a cameo appearance in the series as a character from Murderbot’s favorite in-universe soap opera, The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon.
The first two episodes of Murderbot will debut on Apple TV+ on May 16, 2025, with new episodes released weekly until July 11.
