Apple TV+ today announced that it will expand its slate of acclaimed, expansive sci-fi series with “Murderbot,” a new 10 episode series hailing from Academy Award-nominated creators and directors Chris and Paul Weitz (“About a Boy,” “Mozart in the Jungle”) that will star Emmy® Award-winner Alexander Skarsgård (“Succession,” “Big Little Lies,” “The Northman”) in the lead role. In addition to starring, Skarsgård will serve as executive producer alongside the Weitz Brothers. The project hails from Paramount Television Studios and is based on the best-selling and Hugo and Nebula Award-winning novels by Martha Wells.
“Murderbot” is an action-packed sci-fi series, based on the award-winning books by Martha Wells, about a self-hacking security android who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable “clients.” Murderbot must hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe.
“Murderbot” hails from Paramount Television Studios. The Weitz Brothers will write, direct, and produce under their Depth of Field banner. Andrew Miano also executive produces alongside for Depth of Field. David S. Goyer executive produces alongside Keith Levine for Phantom Four. Martha Wells will serve as consulting producer.
Paul Weitz recently wrote and directed “Fatherhood” starring Kevin Hart, while Depth of Field’s “The Farewell” won best feature at the 2020 Independent Spirit Awards. Chris Weitz most recently wrote “The Creator” and is in post on his next feature “They Listen.”
The series marks the second collaboration for Apple TV+ with storyteller David S. Goyer, who serves as showrunner and executive producer on the global hit, Apple Original epic “Foundation,” which recently aired its second season. Apple TV+ is also home to a growing offering of broadly acclaimed, hit sci-fi titles including “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” “Silo,” “For All Mankind,” “Invasion” and more.
