The best new sci-fi series on Apple TV+ just got renewed for Season 2
Apple TV+ has officially decided to double down on one of its most acclaimed new original series. Murderbot, the genre-blending sci-fi thriller/comedy (thromedy?) starring Alexander Skarsgård, has been renewed for a second season ahead of the show's Season 1 finale that'll be available to stream starting this Friday, July 11.
Based on Martha Wells' bestselling novels, the series has quickly won fans with its blend of cynical humor and unexpected emotional pull. At the heart of the story is a self-aware security android that calls itself 'Murderbot' (a result of its delusions of grandeur) but balances that vibe with its addiction to trashy soap operas. In fact, watching TV is what it would prefer to do all day, rather than keep getting its annoying human protectees out of one jam after another.
Today's Top Deals
XGIMI Prime Day deals feature the new MoGo 4 and up to 42% off smart projectors
Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales
Best Ring Video Doorbell deals
But when its latest mission gets complicated, this emotionally conflicted machine is forced to confront what it really wants from the existence it's been given.
Skarsgård, who also serves as executive producer, has earned rave reviews for his performance, and the show itself has picked up a Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes — the buzz positioning it as one of Apple TV+'s breakout hits of the year. Created by Chris and Paul Weitz, Murderbot combines philosophical sci-fi with dark comedy and a dash of corporate dystopia. Season 2 promises to take viewers even deeper into this strange universe, including by diving into more of the in-world show 'Sanctuary Moon.'
Of course, this is just the latest example of how Apple TV+ has quietly built one of the most exciting sci-fi libraries in streaming, favoring high-concept storytelling over franchise fatigue. Murderbot joins a growing lineup of Apple TV+ sci-fi hits like Foundation, Invasion, and Silo, all of them shows that lean into big ideas and rich, character-focused storytelling. And with the Season 1 finale about to drop, plus a second season already on the way, now's the perfect time to dive in.
Bottom line: Murderbot is probably one of the sharpest and most entertaining sci-fi series out there, on any streaming platform.
Don't Miss: Today's deals: Nintendo Switch games, $5 smart plugs, $150 Vizio soundbar, $100 Beats Pill speaker, more
More Top Deals
Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98
See the
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘Fantastic Four: First Steps' scores Marvel's first $100 million box office opening of 2025
Film Review - The Fantastic Four: First Steps LOS ANGELES (AP) — Marvel's first family has finally found box office gold. 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' the first film about the superheroes made under the guidance of Kevin Feige and the Walt Disney Co., earned $118 million in its first weekend in 4,125 North American theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. That makes it the fourth biggest opening of the year, behind 'A Minecraft Movie,' 'Lilo & Stitch' and 'Superman,' and the biggest Marvel opening since 'Deadpool & Wolverine' grossed $211 million out of the gate last summer. Internationally, 'Fantastic Four' made $100 million from 52 territories, adding up to a $218 million worldwide debut. The numbers were within the range the studio was expecting. The film arrived in the wake of another big superhero reboot, James Gunn's 'Superman,' which opened three weekends ago and has already crossed $500 million globally. That film, from the other main player in comic book films, DC Studios, took second place with $24.9 million domestically. 'First Steps' is the latest attempt at bringing the superhuman family to the big screen, following lackluster performances for other versions. The film, based on the original Marvel comics, is set during the 1960s in a retro-futuristic world led by the Fantastic Four, a family of astronauts-turned-superhuman from exposure to cosmic rays during a space mission. The family is made up of Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), who can stretch his body to incredible lengths; Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), who can render herself invisible; Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), who transforms into a fiery human torch; and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), who possesses tremendous superhuman strength with his stone-like flesh. The movie takes place four years after the family gained powers, during which Reed's inventions have transformed technology, and Sue's diplomacy has led to global peace. Both audiences and critics responded positively to the film, which currently has an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and promising exit poll responses from opening weekend ticket buyers. An estimated 46% of audiences chose to see it on premium screens, including IMAX and other large formats. The once towering Marvel is working to rebuild audience enthusiasm for its films and characters. Its two previous offerings this year did not reach the cosmic box office heights of 'Deadpool & Wolverine," which made over $1.3 billion, or those of the 'Avengers'-era. But critically, the films have been on an upswing since the poorly reviewed 'Captain America: Brave New World,' which ultimately grossed $415 million worldwide. 'Thunderbolts," which jumpstarted the summer movie season, was better received critically but financially is capping out at just over $382 million globally. Like Deadpool and Wolverine, the Fantastic Four characters had been under the banner of 20th Century Fox for years. The studio produced two critically loathed, but decently profitable attempts in the mid-2000s with future Captain America Chris Evans as the Human Torch. In 2015, it tried again (unsuccessfully) with Michael B. Jordan and Miles Teller. They got another chance after Disney's $71 billion acquisition of Fox's entertainment assets in 2019. Top 10 movies by domestic box office With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore: 1. 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' $118 million. 2. 'Superman,' $24.9 million. 3. 'Jurassic World Rebirth,' $13 million. 4. 'F1: The Movie,' $6.2 million. 5. 'Smurfs,' $5.4 million. 6. 'I Know What You Did Last Summer,' $5.1 million. 7. 'How to Train Your Dragon,' $2.8 million. 8. 'Eddington,' $1.7 million. 9. 'Saiyaara,' $1.3 million. 10. 'Oh, Hi!,' $1.1 million. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Derek Hough Attends Dance Event in L.A. After He and Wife Hayley Erbert Reveal They're Expecting Their First Baby
The dancer and actor attended the VIP launch of the International Dance League (IDL) on July 26 Derek Hough was out and about after revealing some exciting personal news! The dancer and actor, 40, attended the VIP launch of the International Dance League (IDL) on Saturday, July 26. His appearance at the event came shortly after he and wife Hayley Erbert revealed they are expecting their first baby. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Hough and Erbert, 30, shared their exciting baby news through a sweet Instagram video on Tuesday, July 22. In the clip, the Dancing with the Stars judge and his wife embraced while overlooking a scenic view. As the two hugged, Erbert showed off sonogram photos to the camera before her. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! "We can't believe the biggest thing to happen to us could be so small ♥️," the couple wrote in the caption of their joint social media post. Hough and Erbert first met in 2014. They later got engaged in June 2022, and the longtime couple then wed over a year later in August 2023. The IDL event, which took place at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, saw some of the world's best dance crews battle it out in front of fans. The dance crews involved included Royal Family (New Zealand), 1MILLION (South Korea), Quick Style (UAE), GRV (USA), Brotherhood (Canada), Jam Republic (Singapore). Just Maiko hosted the event, and a halftime performance was done by rapper BIA. There was also an exclusive merch capsule debut from Jeff Staple. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Fact check: Trump calls to prosecute Beyoncé based on a nonexistent $11 million payment
President Donald Trump over the weekend called for the prosecution of music superstar Beyoncé – based on something that did not actually happen. Trump claimed in a social media post that Beyoncé broke the law by supposedly getting paid $11 million for her endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris during an October 2024 event in Houston. But there is simply no basis for Trump's claim that Beyoncé received an $11 million payment related to the Harris campaign, let alone for the endorsement in particular. Federal campaign spending records show a $165,000 payment from the Harris campaign to Beyoncé's production company, which the campaign listed as a 'campaign event production' expense. A Harris campaign spokesperson told Deadline last year that they didn't pay celebrity endorsers, but were required by law to cover the costs connected to their appearances. Regardless of the merits of this particular $165,000 expenditure, it's far from an $11 million one. Nobody has ever produced any evidence for the claim of an eight-figure endorsement payment to Beyoncé since the claim that it was '$10 million' began spreading last year among Trump supporters on social media. Fact-check websites and PolitiFact looked into the '$10 million' claim during the campaign and did not find any basis for it. The White House did not immediately respond to a CNN request late Saturday for any evidence of Trump's $11 million figure. When Trump previously invoked the baseless figure, during an interview in February, he described his source in the vaguest of terms: 'Somebody just showed me something. They gave her $11 million.' A Harris spokesperson referred CNN on Saturday to a November social media post by Beyoncé's mother Tina Knowles, who called the claim of a $10 million payment a 'lie' and noted it was taken down by Instagram as 'False Information.' 'When In Fact: Beyonce did not receive a penny for speaking at a Presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harrris's (sic) Rally in Houston,' Knowles wrote. A spokesperson for Beyoncé told PolitiFact in November that the claim about a $10 million payment is 'beyond ridiculous.' What Trump wrote Sunday Trump revived the false claim in a social media post published after midnight early Sunday morning in Scotland, where he is visiting. He wrote that he is looking at 'the fact' that Democrats 'admit to paying, probably illegally, Eleven Million Dollars to singer Beyoncé for an ENDORSEMENT.' Democratic officials actually reject the claim of an $11 million payment. The White House did not immediately respond to CNN's request for any evidence of a Democratic admission of such a payment. Trump went on to criticize other payments from the Harris campaign to organizations connected to prominent endorsers. He asserted without evidence that these payments were inaccurately described in spending records. And he wrongly asserted that it is 'TOTALLY ILLEGAL' to pay for political endorsements, though no federal law forbids endorsement payments. Trump concluded: 'Kamala, and all of those that received Endorsement money, BROKE THE LAW. They should all be prosecuted! Thank you for your attention to this matter.' Trump has repeatedly called for the prosecution of political opponents. His Saturday post about Harris and celebrity endorsements was an escalation from a post in May, when he said he would call for a 'major investigation' on the subject but did not explicitly mention prosecutions.
