Latest news with #Murderbot
CNN
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Hollywood Minute: First look at music doc ‘Billy Joel: And So It Goes'
The official trailer for the streaming Billy Joel documentary, 'Murderbot' gets renewed for a second season, and David 'Superman' Corenswet on playing Clark Kent. Rochelle Beighton contributed to this story by David Daniel. (Note: CNN, HBO Max, and Warner Bros. Pictures share the same parent company, Warner Brothers Discovery.)
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Noma Dumezweni: Timing for 'Murderbot' is 'absolutely perfect'
NEW YORK, July 12 (UPI) -- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and The Undoing actress Noma Dumezweni says the themes of hope, community and acceptance in her futuristic sci-fi series, Murderbot, are relatable and important in 2025. "I have the joy of playing Dr. Ida Mensah from the Preservation Alliance," Dumezweni, 55, told UPI in a recent Zoom interview. "You can be whatever you want. We don't align ourselves with the polities of the Corporation Rim, which are all different planets, owned by corporations, and the timing for the show is absolutely perfect. It feels like right now." The adaptation of Martha Wells' novella stars Alexander Skarsgard as the titular, partly organic, security unit cyborg, which finds a way to override its "obey" function and think for itself as it is assigned to guard a group of free-spirited scientists led by Mensah (Dumezweni) and Gurathin (David Dastmalchian). Dune and Dexter: Resurrection actor Dastmalchian, 49, described his character as an "augmented human." "Though he is a human, he has a portal so he can connect to data through computer systems both through bluetooth technology and through cables," Dastmalchian explained. "He is an analyzer, a data analytic specialist. He's able to process large streams of data and store data and run it through his computation, so he's on the lookout for any anomalies, always on the lookout for making sure everything stays straight in alignment," the actor added. "He's very, what we would call, 'Type A.'" And that occasionally puts him at odds with the hippie scientist community he finds himself a part of. "It's wild," Dastmalchian said. "I'm right in the middle of this free-loving, socialistic [group]. We've got throuples over here. Oh, my God!" Dumezweni called Gurathin a "wonderful bridge between Murderbot and the Preservation." "They know what that world is, but they understand what the possibility of this world is, so therefore Gurathin's cynicism towards Murderbot is called for, but, for Mensah, [she is like]: 'No, we're all good. Let's try and find out what else we have in common." "He has a healthy dose of skepticism," Dastmalchian chimed in. The actor said the scripts by Paul and Chris Weitz expertly blend entertaining storytelling with important social issues. "It's the gift of great writing and being around an ensemble of great artists," Dastmalchian said. "You play it straight. We're never looking for the laugh. You're never looking for the sci-fi moment, the drama moment. You're playing the intention of the characters, their relationships to one another in the given circumstances and all the amazing, extreme mise-en-scene that comes with building a world like this is just all the fun." Dumezweni also credited Wells with creating such a dynamic, colorful world in the first place. "These stories are so clearly what we are creating and what Paul and Chris have created for us to be part of and that's the joy," she said. "From the well of Wells!" Dastmalchian added. Jon Cho, Jack McBrayer, Clark Gregg, Sabrina Wu, DeWanda Wise, Akshay Khanna, Tattiawna Jones and Tamara Podemski co-star. Season 1 is now streaming on Apple TV+. The show has already been renewed for Season 2.
UPI
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Noma Dumezweni: Timing for 'Murderbot' is 'absolutely perfect'
1 of 3 | Noma Dumezweni and Alexander Skarsgard star in "Murderbot," now streaming. Photo courtesy of Apple TV+. NEW YORK, July 12 (UPI) -- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and The Undoing actress Noma Dumezweni says the themes of hope, community and acceptance in her futuristic sci-fi series, Murderbot, are relatable and important in 2025. "I have the joy of playing Dr. Ida Mensah from the Preservation Alliance," Dumezweni, 55, told UPI in a recent Zoom interview. "You can be whatever you want. We don't align ourselves with the polities of the Corporation Rim, which are all different planets, owned by corporations, and the timing for the show is absolutely perfect. It feels like right now." The adaptation of Martha Wells' novella stars Alexander Skarsgard as the titular, partly organic, security unit cyborg, which finds a way to override its "obey" function and think for itself as it is assigned to guard a group of free-spirited scientists led by Mensah (Dumezweni) and Gurathin (David Dastmalchian). Dune and Dexter: Resurrection actor Dastmalchian, 49, described his character as an "augmented human." "Though he is a human, he has a portal so he can connect to data through computer systems both through bluetooth technology and through cables," Dastmalchian explained. "He is an analyzer, a data analytic specialist. He's able to process large streams of data and store data and run it through his computation, so he's on the lookout for any anomalies, always on the lookout for making sure everything stays straight in alignment," the actor added. "He's very, what we would call, 'Type A.'" And that occasionally puts him at odds with the hippie scientist community he finds himself a part of. "It's wild," Dastmalchian said. "I'm right in the middle of this free-loving, socialistic [group]. We've got throuples over here. Oh, my God!" Dumezweni called Gurathin a "wonderful bridge between Murderbot and the Preservation." "They know what that world is, but they understand what the possibility of this world is, so therefore Gurathin's cynicism towards Murderbot is called for, but, for Mensah, [she is like]: 'No, we're all good. Let's try and find out what else we have in common." "He has a healthy dose of skepticism," Dastmalchian chimed in. The actor said the scripts by Paul and Chris Weitz expertly blend entertaining storytelling with important social issues. "It's the gift of great writing and being around an ensemble of great artists," Dastmalchian said. "You play it straight. We're never looking for the laugh. You're never looking for the sci-fi moment, the drama moment. You're playing the intention of the characters, their relationships to one another in the given circumstances and all the amazing, extreme mise-en-scene that comes with building a world like this is just all the fun." Dumezweni also credited Wells with creating such a dynamic, colorful world in the first place. "These stories are so clearly what we are creating and what Paul and Chris have created for us to be part of and that's the joy," she said. "From the well of Wells!" Dastmalchian added. Jon Cho, Jack McBrayer, Clark Gregg, Sabrina Wu, DeWanda Wise, Akshay Khanna, Tattiawna Jones and Tamara Podemski co-star. Season 1 is now streaming on Apple TV+. The show has already been renewed for Season 2.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Murderbot' Renewed For Season 2 At Apple TV+ Ahead Of Season 1 Finale
Murderbot has willed its way to a Season 2 on Apple TV+. The renewal news on Thursday comes ahead of the conclusion of the first season, which debuts on Friday. More from Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 'Virgin River' Gets Early Season 8 Renewal, Becomes Netflix's Longest-Running Scripted Series 'Slow Horses' Renewed For Season 7 At Apple TV+ Based on the first novella in Martha Wells' book series, Murderbot is a sci-fi thriller/comedy about a self-hacking security construct who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients, played by Alexander Skarsgård. In Season 1, 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. In addition to starring in the series, Skarsgård also serves as an executive producer. Murderbot is created by Chris and Paul Weitz, who are also the showrunners. 'We're so grateful for the response that Murderbot has received, and delighted that we're getting to go back to Martha Wells' world to work with Alexander, Apple, CBS Studios and the rest of the team,' Chris and Paul Weitz, said in a statement Thursday. Added Matt Cherniss, head of programming, Apple TV+: 'Chris, Paul, Alexander and the entire Murderbot team have delivered a brilliantly original, addictive, witty and vibrant adaptation that has captured the imagination of audiences everywhere. We can't wait to unveil what's next for Murderbot and, of course, 'Sanctuary Moon' in season two.' In addition to Skarsgård, the Season 1 ensemble cast includes Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, Tattiawna Jones and Tamara Podemski. Murderbot hails from CBS Studios. The Weitz brothers write, direct and executive produce under their Depth of Field banner. Andrew Miano also executive produces for Depth of Field. David S. Goyer executive produces alongside Keith Levine for Phantom Four. Wells serves as consulting producer. Best of Deadline 'The Buccaneers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? 'The Buccaneers' Season 2 Soundtrack: From Griff To Sabrina Carpenter 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery
USA Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Murderbot is the latest in successes for Apple TV+
The brotherly writer/director/producer combination of Chris and Paul Weitz came into their most recent project, Apple TV+'s action comedy Murderbot, in the most straightforward way. "Paul just found it in the bookstore," Chris Weitz said in an interview with For The Win. "Yeah, I liked the cover of the book," Paul Weitz said with a laugh, referencing the The Murderbot Diaries series written by Martha Wells. "For me, if there are numerous books in a series, there's got to be something pretty great about at least the initial books. ... The character was so distinct and such a unique literary character with its kind of roots in other literary characters." From there, Paul sent it to Chris, and the About A Boy directors were off and running. The first season of Murderbot -- which stars Alexander Skarsgård in the titular role -- comes to a close on Friday, July 11, but the series has already been picked up for a second season. In the show, Murderbot (Skarsgård) is a security droid that is secretly able to hack his own system and gain a consciousness. Despite only wanting to watch his reality shows, Murderbot is forced to provide security for a group of scientists and attempt to hide his humanity to stay alive. Adapting the book into a 10-episode series was easier than expected for the Weitzes, thanks to the source material and the author. "We knew there was nothing that we wanted to change or take out of the books," Paul Weitz explained. "For a 10-episode series, we had to add some stuff. But luckily, we had access to Martha Wells, so we could bounce ideas off her, and occasionally she would give us ideas for stuff that wasn't in the books." Chris Weitz agreed, but knew there was pressure in taking on a project with source material: "There's a tremendous responsibility, both to the the author, whose whose world you are playing in, and to the fans who are deeply devoted to the books." The first season has a 96 percent rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, joining highly rated Apple TV+ programming like Slow Horses (98 percent), Black Bird (98 percent), Pachinko (97 percent), Severance (95 percent), The Studio (93 percent) and Ted Lasso (90 percent) with stellar reviews. In a day and age where artificial intelligence is becoming more and more common, Chris Weitz liked the approach and questions about morality that a show like Murderbot can bring to the forefront. "We're used to robots wanting to become more human and to experience human emotions," he said. "Murderbot has absolutely no interest in being human or in dealing with all of the mess of humankind. It takes an interesting angle on AI, which is that we don't necessarily need to see it in terms of whether it's angelic or demonic, but that it have its own sort of form of personality and personhood." All episodes of Murderbot are now streaming on Apple TV+.
