Murderbot, the sci-fi thriller-comedy which is based on the Martha Wells’ book series, premiered yesterday on Apple TV+. The series follows a self-aware security android known as SecUnit (Alexander Skarsgård), who hacks its own governor module to gain free will. Despite its new autonomy, rather than fleeing, it continues to protect a group of scientists on a dangerous alien planet while pretending to still be under corporate control. SecUnit, however, is more interested in binge-watching soap operas than interacting with the humans around it.

Recently, star Skarsgård spoke with SciFi Vision about working on the series and how it was exciting to him, because it was something quite different. “Well, it just felt tonally quite unique to me, and it was a sci-fi world that I hadn't seen or read before and a character that wasn't your stereotypical protagonist,” the actor told the site, adding that the character was “not self-assured or confident but rather socially awkward.”

Skarsgård also spoke with the site about the costume, where he pulled inspiration from besides the book and script for his portrayal, and more.

Watch the interview and read the transcript below.



***edited for clarity***

SCIFI VISION:   What was it though that made you want to be a part of the series?

ALEXANDER SKARSGÅRD:  Well, it felt tonally quite unique to me, and it was a sci-fi world that I hadn't seen or read before and a character that wasn't your stereotypical protagonist. It was very refreshing to read something where the protagonist was not self-assured or confident but rather socially awkward and really went out of its way to avoid action and conflicts. So, I thought it was - just both reading the screenplays or the teleplays and All Systems Red, the novella that the first season is based on was, it just got me really excited. It was definitely a character I hadn't played before but also tonally something I hadn't seen before.

SCIFI VISION:   Talk about the costume and how that helped inform your decisions, and was it hard to move around in, is the second part of that.

ALEXANDER SKARSGÅRD:  Yeah, the costume was a nightmare. [laughs] It looked great, and it was perfect for the character, but, yeah, it was hot and itchy, and the thick rubber neckline felt like walking around in an oversized condom. It got toasty in there, but it definitely helped in finding Murderbot and Murderbot's movements and the rigidity of it. So, yeah, I think it was a mixed bag. The whole process of making the suit was very creative and very fun, and I was super excited getting into the costume. But yes, day ninety-five in that costume when it was sunny and ninety degrees outside, there were definitely moments that were tough.

SCIFI VISION:   Was there any place other than the script or the book that you were inspired by for him or that you thought about as you were creating your version of him?

ALEXANDER SKARSGÅRD:  Well, in many ways, the essence of the character, I just tapped into the socially awkwardness of the situations, and of someone who tries to figure out how to navigate being around humans that it is confused by. A lot of the drama and comedy comes out of those interactions between Murderbot and the team that it's assigned to protect, how it is in some ways repulsed by and in some ways confused by, but slowly it starts to, against its own self-interest and will, starts to create a bond with them, and that's kind of the trajectory of the, of the first season. This, android, this Security Unit who has zero good interactions with humans in the past, is suddenly surrounded by a group of humans that are different and that are including it into their camaraderie and into the group and how Murderbot is trying to navigate that at first, again, really avoiding it, but then slowly it starts to build a relationship with the group. And that was something quite fun to explore with the gang.