In ‘Murderbot,’ an anxious scientist and an autonomous robot develop a workplace-trauma bond
Initially, Alexander Skarsgård had concerns that “Murderbot” might be too grim due to its title and the fact that he’d recently starred in several intense films like “The Northman” and “Infinity Pool.” However, he was seeking a more humorous role at the time. The series, adapted from Martha Wells’ beloved science fiction books, didn’t seem to hint at being comedic.
Speaking on the phone from Los Angeles, Skarsgård shares, “I wasn’t acquainted with Martha’s sci-fi novellas before; all I knew was their titles. My initial assumption was that it would be a typical, testosterone-fueled, hard-edged android story set in space. But once I delved into the script, I was delightfully taken aback as I’d never come across such an intriguing character before.
The actor was so captivated by the main character that he not only agreed to appear in the Apple TV+ show, but also decided to take on a producing role alongside creators Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz.
Chatting with Chris and Paul really fueled my excitement,” he notes. “Their intelligence is impressive, and their ideas for the character and the series have me all charged up.
Season 1, starting in May, is adapted from “All Systems Red,” the first novel of Wells’ science fiction series “The Murderbot Diaries.” The story centers around a rogue cyborg security unit, nicknamed a ‘SecUnit,’ who gains independence by hacking its control system. A diverse team of scientists, headed by Dr. Mensah (portrayed by Noma Dumezweni), are compelled to include the SecUnit in their planetary assignment. As the mission unfolds with unexpected complications, Murderbot learns human behaviors and interactions. The dynamic between Mensah and her SecUnit, whom it refers to as Murderbot, is endearingly awkward. With trust becoming essential as the mission goes awry, an unusual bond forms between them. In “Command Feed,” the sixth episode recently released, Dr. Mensah intervenes to save Murderbot from destruction, performing a hesitant operation on its circuits.
Alexander Skarsgård stars in “Murderbot,” as the titular autonomous robot in the series. (Apple)
In a different interview held over Zoom from New York City, where she is set to star in “Duke & Roya” on Broadway, Dumezweni expresses her thoughts about the scene: “Is this what people now refer to as trauma bonding?” She finds the process of filming particularly remarkable due to the exceptional work done by the special effects team. Even though Murderbot was standing right in front of her during filming, it wasn’t Alexander, but it appeared so lifelike and real.
Skarsgård notes that the interaction was primarily driven by the script, finding it intriguing. He observed that Mensah’s character would be compassionate, which was unexpected for Murderbot, as it’s not accustomed to being treated kindly or recognized as a conscious entity. Instead, it has always been considered machinery. Skarsgåard and Mensah had numerous discussions about this dynamic, finding it rich with humor due to their contrasting traits.
For the first time, I find myself leading a TV series, a significant shift from my past roles that were more modest in scale. At first, I was hesitant about the project, as the realm of sci-fi hasn’t historically offered many substantial roles for actors of color like myself. However, the unique narrative and opportunity to bring diversity to this genre ultimately won me over.
She mentions, “Typically, I’d step in and perform duties as a receptionist. I’m quite fond of science fiction. Yet, I found myself questioning: What role would I assume in this science fiction universe?
However, once she learned more about the world and the character, the actor changed her mind.
Dumezweni expresses delight in finding out that Chris and Paul didn’t need to alter anything for the representation to be accurate, stating, “It’s a pleasure not to battle for characters due to their skin color.
As a passionate cinephile, I found myself utterly captivated by the unique blend of action, humor, and drama that this series offers. As a robot out of its element, Murderbot is stiff yet endearingly out of tune with human emotions, discovering them through clandestine binge-watching of soap operas. The Preservation Alliance team, led by Mensah, is an eclectic group, comprising characters like David Dastmalchian’s Gurathin and Sabrina Wu’s Pin-Lee, who constantly challenge Murderbot’s preconceived notions. The humor in this series doesn’t stem from contrived jokes, but rather from the hilarious situations that unfold and Murderbot’s sarcastic voice-over narration, as well as its apparent apathy towards interacting with humans.
According to Skarsgård, the writing was remarkably distinct and surprising right off the bat with an unusual tone. He adds that what makes it work is its immediate blend of being a grand, action-filled sci-fi series, yet simultaneously serving as a humorous depiction of office life.
Due to the vital role the voice-over plays in the narrative, there was much experimentation involved to get it just right. Skarsgård expresses his concern about integrating it during filming, as Murderbot is largely emotionless and spares few words in many of the actual scenes.
He proposes a method of contrasting the dialogue with a more vivid, emotional inner narrative: “How can we strike a lively and engaging tone when portraying Murderbot’s external speech versus his internal thoughts?
In the episodes, the voice-over was constantly being adapted. On set, an assistant director might read the narration without being on camera when it seemed beneficial for the actors during a specific scene. Later, Skarsgård, Chris, and Paul met up in Stockholm, New York, and Los Angeles for various recording sessions to experiment with different voice-over options.
Skarsgård remarks that the process was both tiring yet entertaining creatively as adjusting the voice-over subtly led to significant shifts in the scene’s tone. Without any voice-over, moments might seem insignificant or uneventful; however, a brief commentary from Murderbot transformed those instances into amusing, little interludes instead.
The show stays true to H.G. Wells’ novel, but certain character traits have been developed further. In this adaptation, Mensah displays anxiety in several emotional scenes, a departure from her character as written. Dumezweni has noticed some criticism from book enthusiasts regarding these changes, a sentiment she relates to, having played Hermione Granger during the premiere of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” on the West End stage.
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With the grand opening of the Harry Potter play in San Francisco this coming Sunday, the show has been avoiding a more substantial conversation regarding its casting choices.
She explains, “In film and television production, you need to enlarge, not alter. You should supplement the story, not switch it. I enjoy it because only Murderbot perceives what’s unfolding for her in that instant. Her team doesn’t catch on until Episode 4. Those instances are my favorites because they develop her character.
For Dumezweni, these scenes offer Mensah a chance for audience empathy through her portrayal, much like how Murderbot is written with elements reminiscent of autism, a detail some viewers have picked up on. However, Skarsgård clarifies that the creators didn’t intentionally design the character to be explicitly neurodivergent in the series.
I find it evident in both the novellas and scripts that this character isn’t exactly at ease in social situations with others and often finds human interactions challenging. For me, this character was designed to resonate with individuals within the neurodivergent community, but also many fans from the LGBTQ community. Murderbot, who doesn’t identify with a specific gender or adhere to traditional sexuality, could be relatable in this aspect. However, it’s just part of Murderbot’s nature; that was crucial – this is how Murderbot was crafted, and these aspects are not significant to Murderbot themselves.
Fundamental to the series lies the idea of Murderbot’s self-determination, a theme that will be delved into more deeply as the story progresses in future installments.
Dumezweni notes, ‘Now we comprehend that it indeed possesses true free will, and that decisions must be made within this world.’ Encountering these individuals opens up an opportunity for it to grasp that not every human being is devoid of wisdom.
According to Skarsgård, Murderbot’s personal voyage throughout the season centers around deciding how to utilize its newfound freedom. Once it hacked the control module and gained independence, the character grapples with questions like: “Now that I have this autonomy, who am I? What can I accomplish? What am I prepared to do? What are my true desires?
Despite no official announcement of a second season for “Murderbot”, there’s plenty of content to explore. Author Martha Wells has penned seven novels starring Murderbot, and Alexander Skarsgård expresses enthusiasm about the possibility of additional episodes.
He expresses his affection for Murderbot,” he mentions. “Not just watching it, but engaging with it, he adds. Chris and Paul, he notes, are not only gifted creators but also kind and generous individuals. If you were to speak with anyone involved in the show’s production, I can assure you that they all had a fantastic experience.
In the final four episodes, we’ll uncover who is orchestrating the assaults against the Preservation Alliance and if they manage to flee the planet. Additionally, these episodes delve deeply into the histories of characters such as Mensah and Gurathin.
Dumezweni expresses her eagerness for everyone to witness every single story, stating, ‘And in the final two episodes, Alex delivers something fantastic! Even if I don’t return for more seasons, Alexander Skarsgård must continue producing seasons of ‘Murderbot.’ His subtle facial expressions are incredible, and he truly embodies the character with grace.’
Skarsgård explains that as time goes on, it becomes increasingly challenging for Murderbot to safeguard these genuinely endearing yet innocent and unseasoned humans. He clarifies that it’s not a spoiler to acknowledge that eventually, Murderbot will develop feelings for these people, but we wanted to avoid rushing into that. Instead, we chose to approach the situation gradually. A significant portion of the humor stems from the character’s extreme reluctance to risk their lives.
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2025-06-13 13:31