Hugo-winning “Murderbot Diaries” books being adapted by Apple TV+
New sci-fi series from network that gave us Monarch and Foundation
Alexander Skarsgård (Godzilla vs. Kong) set to star in and executive produce new series based on Martha Wells’ books about a self-hacking security droid.
Apple TV+ is increasing its collection of sci-fi series with Murderbot, a 10-episode show based on the bestselling and Hugo and Nebula Award-winning novels by Martha Wells. (Whole list of those books plus more info and author quotes here.) The show will star Emmy Award-winner Alexander Skarsgård (Succession,Big Little Lies,The Northman), who will also serve as executive producer alongside Academy Award-nominated creators and directors Chris and Paul Weitz (About a Boy, Mozart in the Jungle).
The action-packed sci-fi series Murderbot will revolve around a self-hacking security android 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. Based on the book by Wells, she also will serve as consulting producer.
Regarding the origins of the book series, the author told Transfer Orbit:
“I got this idea for what was going to be a sad, short story about a SecUnit that basically had to expose the fact that it had hacked itself and was now free in order to save the people it was guarding. I was just going to jot down some notes on what the story’s plot was…but ended up writing five pages of All Systems Red.”
Given that she’s now several novels into the series, The Fantasy Review asked the author what she thought about the how much the popularity for her character has grown:
“I was very surprised, I didn’t expect the series to go past the first two novellas, and it’s just been amazing to me how popular it’s become.”
Murderbot will join a growing list of acclaimed shows on streaming channel Apple TV+. Among the network’s current shows is Foundation, based on the books by science fiction legend Isaac Asimov, and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, building on the MonsterVerse legacy found in recent Godzilla and King Kong movies. (More info about Monarch here: Godzilla and Kurt Russell on Apple TV+.) Also on Apple TV+ are acclaimed shows like For All Mankind, The Changeling, Shrinking, and Ted Lasso.
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About the author
Martha Wells has been an SF/F writer since her first fantasy novel was published in 1993. Her work includes the epic fantasy books in The Books of the Raksura series, the sorcerous Ile-Rien series, the science fiction adventure The Murderbot Diaries series, and other fantasy novels, most recently Witch King (Tordotcom, 2023). She has also written media tie-in fiction for Star Wars, Stargate: Atlantis, and Magic: the Gathering, as well as short fiction, YA novels, and non-fiction.
She has won Nebula Awards, Hugo Awards, Locus Awards, and a Dragon Award, and her work has appeared on the Philip K. Dick Award ballot, the BSFA Award ballot, the USA Today Bestseller List, the Sunday Times Bestseller List, and the New York Times Bestseller List. She is a member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame, and her books have been published in 25 languages.
Find More About Martha Wells Online
Related links
Martha Wells Q&A: Complete The Murderbot Diaries (Monster Complex)
Apple TV+ to Adapt Martha Wells' Murderbot; Alexander Skarsgård Set to Star (Tor.com)
Talking Murderbot With 'Network Effect' Author Martha Wells (Newsweek)
Alexander Skarsgard Joins Apple's Upcoming Murderbot Series (IGN Nordic)
All About Murderbot with Martha Wells (Smart Bitches, Trashy Books)
Apple is making a Murderbot series starring Alexander Skarsgård (The Verge)
Surviving the Corporate Galaxy: An interview with Martha Wells (Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship)
Alexander Skarsgård Stars In ‘Murderbot’ Sci-Fi Series Ordered By Apple From Chris & Paul Weitz (Deadline)
Martha Wells on Her Return to Fantasy—and What Murderbot Is Up To (Gizmodo)
‘Murderbot’ Series From ‘About A Boy’ Filmmakers Set at Apple, Alexander Skarsgård to Star and EP (Variety)
Martha Wells, MURDERBOT DIARIES author (Fictitious Podcast)
Apple is adapting the Hugo Award-winning sci-fi book series Murderbot (Engadget)
Martha Wells answers your questions — Ask the Author (Goodreads)
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