Based on Martha Wells’ bestselling Hugo and Nebula Award-winning book series, Murderbot is a sci-fi comedic thriller that explores the life of a self-hacking security construct grappling with human emotions. The series, starring Alexander Skarsgård, follows Murderbot as it conceals its free will to complete a perilous mission, all while yearning to indulge in futuristic soap operas and discover its place in the universe.
Last month, we had the opportunity to speak with Skarsgård and the creators, Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz, about their experiences working on the series. The conversation began with Skarsgård discussing the challenge of finding humanity in a character named “Murderbot.”
Exploring the Character of Murderbot
“We wanted a contrast and a juxtaposition between the name of the character and the way we designed the look of the character,” Skarsgård explained. “We wanted a tough name like Murderbot, who looks like he could definitely beat you up, but it’s a fun contrast when you actually meet it. It’s not a testosterone-filled fighting machine. It’s a very socially awkward android who wants to be left alone to watch Sanctuary Moon.”
The Weitz brothers, known for their work on About a Boy and other projects, are no strangers to the sci-fi genre. Chris Weitz, who contributed to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, shared insights on how that experience informed his approach to Murderbot.
Building a Sci-Fi World
“Yeah, I think that learning from Gareth Edwards about science fiction world-building that incorporated live-action and CGI so well was a real roadmap for us, visually,” Chris Weitz confirmed. “Also, knowing that there is an intensely motivated fandom that is waiting on any clue as to what it is you’re going about, and that really closely prize their head cannon of things and that you need to try and make them understand you’re a fan as well.”
He continued, “Understanding that the way to popularize something like this is to take what people are really into or really love about it and bring it to the world rather than saying, ‘We’re going to get rid of all these dumb elements and make it more like stuff that’s succeeded.'”
Alexander Skarsgård’s Sci-Fi Debut
While Skarsgård’s father, Stellan, is currently making waves in the Star Wars universe with Andor, Alexander himself is no stranger to genre fare, having appeared in True Blood, Godzilla vs. Kong, and Infinity Pool. However, Murderbot marks his first full-blown sci-fi project.
“I’m a child of the 80s. I grew up watching Star Wars. It’s a bit of a dream to be part of a sci-fi project. I wanted to wait for the right one,” the actor revealed. “I’ve read a couple of things over the years that weren’t quite for me, but this felt perfect.”
Skarsgård concluded, “Tonally, it was something I was drawn to. It was so idiosyncratic and different and unexpected. I had no interest in playing a more generic or derivative character. This felt like something I hadn’t seen or read before.”
The Ensemble Cast and Premiere
Murderbot boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Noma Dumezweni (Presumed Innocent), David Dastmalchian (Oppenheimer), Sabrina Wu (Joy Ride), Akshay Khanna (Critical Incident), Tattiawna Jones (The Handmaid’s Tale), and Tamara Podemski (Outer Range).
The series is set to premiere on Apple TV+ on May 16. Fans can look forward to a unique blend of humor and sci-fi intrigue, as well as the full Murderbot interviews with Alexander Skarsgård and Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz, offering deeper insights into the making of the show.
As the series prepares to debut, it represents a significant addition to the sci-fi genre, promising to captivate audiences with its unique take on artificial intelligence and human emotion. The collaboration between Skarsgård and the Weitz brothers highlights a shared passion for storytelling that transcends traditional genre boundaries.
