JustWatch has launched a new Why to Watch feature spotlighting the Apple TV+ original series, Murderbot, ahead of its world premiere May 16, 2025.
Murderbot is the new sci-fi comedy streaming weekly on AppleTV+. Based on the bestselling novels by Martha Wells, this genre-defying sci-fi adaptation is poised to be a standout.
The series is led by Alexander Skarsgård (Succession and The Northman) who plays an enigmatic private security cyborg, self-named Murderbot.
Murderbot breaks free from its programming, only to discover that navigating human relationships may be harder than saving them. Skarsgård brings stoic intensity and unexpected heart to a character unlike anything else in sci-fi television.
The exclusive editorial explores what makes Murderbot a must-watch, featuring personal reflections and behind-the-scenes insights from cast members David Dastmalchian, Tattiawna Jones, Sabrina Wu, and even show creators, Chris and Paul Weitz.
The directing brothers bring their genre-bending expertise to the series. Known for American Pie, About a Boy and Rogue One, they mash up the tones of each mentioned film to give Murderbot a mix of heart, humor, and genre polish.
Chris notes that “Murderbot belongs to a long line of killer robots, but I think there’s something very specific, something unique about what [Author] Martha [Welles] created.”
“With sci-fi there are so many excellent visions of a dystopian future,” he continues. “We wanted to push it past that into a sort of post-dystopian world. Yes, this is a very brutal and capitalistic society, but there are also interesting things to look at –there are colors, there’s brightness. For me, [Murderbot] feels like the world of 1980s science fiction paperback covers, which are inherently fun to look at and contemplate.”
So far, the show has released its first two episodes (both on May 16) which have been extremely well-received from critics thus far, earning a 97% score on the aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes.
David Dastmalchian comments on his admiration for Murderbot calling it “unlike any sci-fi you’ve ever seen”.
“I’ve been a science fiction nerd my entire life, and living in that space, often you find that views of technology and evolution and the future are rather nihilistic.
But when you climb into the world of Murderbot, there’s a humanism within it, even in the perspective of a robot (which is wild to think about). The show is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It makes you laugh and it has so much heart – I love that the characters are deeply loving, kind people.”
Dastmalchian is a famed character actor known for a variety of support roles The Dark Knight, Ant-Man, and Suicide Squad. He discusses his role as Gurathin, one of the members of the scientist team in the series.
“Gurathin is one of my favorite roles I’ve ever played, I love him so much. The character development is also beautifully well-written and directed, and the performances are out of this world. Alexander Skarsgård is a genius! I’m so proud of it.”
Tattiawna Jones (The 100, and Dragged Across Concrete) plays Arada, who brings grounded emotion and layered charm to the futuristic series. Jones calls Murderbot “The weirdest, coolest space dream you never expected.”
“[Murderbot] is like no other sci-fi. I don’t gravitate towards sci-fi series as a personal favorite, but this has all the things I love about other genres AND it’s also sci-fi. Not to mention that it comes on the back of seven glorious books by Martha Welles, who has written a beautiful world that [directors] Chris and Paul [Weitz] have elaborated on.
It’s like the weirdest, coolest space dream you never thought you’d get a chance to be a part of.”
Sabrina Wu, who plays Pin-Lee, calls the show “weird, uncomfortable and surprisingly sweet.”
“It’s really easy for anyone to find a piece of themselves in all of these different pockets of the show. The humour especially is surprising. When you hear ‘action sci-fi with comedy’ [you might think] it’s going to feel a little bit [like] Marvel. But it’s really funny and specific; it’s weird and uncomfortable. It feels like ‘alt comedy’ to me, and I think that’s special.”
The series airs on AppleTV+ weekly with a total of 10 episodes, and will run until its Season 1 finale on July 11.
