Apple TV+ has today dropped the first trailer for “Murderbot,” its upcoming sci-fi comedic thriller series, set to premiere on May 16, 2025. Based on Martha Wells‘ highly acclaimed The Murderbot Diaries book series, the show will debut globally with the first two episodes, followed by weekly releases every Friday through July 11.
From Academy Award-nominated filmmakers Chris & Paul Weitz (About a Boy, Mozart in the Jungle), “Murderbot” delivers an engaging mix of sci-fi, thriller, and comedy. Set in a sophisticated, space-faring future, the series stars Emmy Award winner Alexander Skarsgård (“Succession,” “Big Little Lies”) in the lead role, as a self-hacking security construct named Murderbot. While the character is disturbed by human emotions, it finds itself unexpectedly connecting with the vulnerable clients it’s assigned to protect. Despite the high-stakes mission, Murderbot’s true passion is binge-watching futuristic soap operas and figuring out its place in the universe.
The Murderbot Diaries series, which inspired the show, kicks off with All Systems Red, the first novella in the collection. All Systems Red earned the Nebula Award for Best Novella in 2017, the 2018 Hugo Award for Best Novella, and the American Library Association’s Alex Award, while also being nominated for the 2017 Philip K. Dick Award.
The ensemble cast also includes Noma Dumezweni (“Presumed Innocent”), David Dastmalchian (Dune), Sabrina Wu (Joy Ride), Akshay Khanna (“Critical Incident”), Tattiawna Jones (“The Handmaid’s Tale”), and Tamara Podemski (“Outer Range”).
“Murderbot” is produced by Paramount Television Studios, with the Weitz brothers serving as writers, directors, and producers under their Depth of Field banner. Andrew Miano also executive produces alongside the Weitz brothers, while David S. Goyer and Keith Levine executive produce for Phantom Four. Wells, the author of the original book series, is credited as a consulting producer.
