Fans of cyberpunk and science fiction have a new show to look forward to! Apple TV+’s upcoming series, Neuromancer, which is based on the classic novel, is expected to fill the void left by Netflix’s Altered Carbon. While Altered Carbon was a hit for two seasons (2018-2020), it was unfortunately canceled, and now Neuromancer is poised to become the next big thing in the genre when it releases in 2026.
Inspired by William Gibson’s groundbreaking 1984 novel Neuromancer, the upcoming series follows Case, a computer hacker portrayed by Callum Turner, who is hired by a secretive group of artificial intelligences to pull off a risky robbery. The original Neuromancer is famous for defining the world of cyberspace and establishing the look and feel of cyberpunk, and this new series promises to delve into similar themes of technology and what it means to be human – themes that were left unexplored when Altered Carbon was cancelled.
‘Altered Carbon’ Advances ‘Neuromancer’s Cybernetic Themes
Netflix
Altered Carbon, set far in the future, asks big questions about what it means to be human when technology is incredibly advanced. The series, adapted from Richard K. Morgan’s novel, takes place in 2384 in Bay City. In this world, people can digitally store their memories and personalities on devices called ‘cortical stacks’ implanted in their spines. This allows them to transfer their consciousness into new bodies, called ‘Sleeves.’ The wealthiest people, known as ‘Meths,’ use this technology to essentially cheat death and live indefinitely.
The series centers on Takeshi Kovacs, a former soldier who’s been imprisoned. He’s also the last surviving member of a group called the Envoys, who were almost completely wiped out 250 years ago. Kovacs gets a chance at freedom when he’s offered a deal: solve the murder of wealthy businessman Laurens Bancroft (played by James Purefoy). But taking the case puts him in a dangerous situation, forcing him to consider whether the reward is worth the risk of helping a powerful and potentially ruthless man.
Exploring complex ideas about what it means to be human, gender, the ethics of AI, and the relationship between people and technology, Altered Carbon built upon the science fiction concepts first presented in Neuromancer and updated them for a modern audience. It was unfortunate that Altered Carbon was canceled after only 18 episodes, but Neuromancer will have an opportunity to return the favor when its own series premieres on Apple TV+ in late 2026.
‘Neuromancer’ Wrote the Cyberpunk Rulebook & ‘Altered Carbon’ Is Forever Indebted
Apple TV
For fans of sci-fi like Altered Carbon, Neuromancer is a perfect follow-up. This groundbreaking novel tells the story of hacker Case and a job at the digital Chatsubo Bar, and it’s famous for introducing the idea of “cyberspace.” Author William Gibson coined the term “jacking in” to describe how people connect to this digital world using technology.
The idea of ‘jacking in’ feels like a first step towards the more complex ‘stacking’ and ‘sleeving’ techniques seen in Altered Carbon, which allow people to navigate virtual reality and create digital identities. At the same time, Altered Carbon‘s virtual world, the ‘MatriX,’ takes a lot of inspiration from the digital ‘Cyberspace’ in Neuromancer. This shared foundation gives the two shows a similar core message.
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Both sci-fi shows share common ideas and a striking visual style – a sleek, dark, and high-tech look often called cyberpunk. Like the characters in Altered Carbon and Neuromancer, we see stories unfold in rundown cities controlled by powerful companies, creating a bleak picture of a future dominated by technology. If you enjoyed Altered Carbon, exploring the original Neuromancer novel will give you fascinating background information and a deeper understanding of the big questions about humanity’s future that the show raises.
Ideally, the movie Neuromancer would have come out before Altered Carbon. Now, adapting Gibson’s groundbreaking cyberpunk novel will help connect the dots and address what was missing after Altered Carbon.
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2026-01-24 19:20