Ahead of its world premiere this Friday, May 16, 2025, JustWatch has launched a new Why to Watch feature spotlighting the Apple TV+ original series Murderbot. Based on the bestselling novels by Martha Wells, this genre-defying sci-fi adaptation is poised to be a standout.
The exclusive editorial explores what makes Murderbot a must-watch, featuring personal reflections and behind-the-scenes insights from the cast and creative team—including David Dastmalchian, Tattiawna Jones, Sabrina Wu, and directors Chris and Paul Weitz.
Known for its sharp satire, emotional undertones, and unapologetically sarcastic lead character, Murderbot follows a self-aware android who would rather binge soap operas than deal with humans—until it finds itself entangled in messy human dramas and reluctant heroism.
The series stars Alexander Skarsgård in the lead role as the enigmatic Murderbot, bringing stoic intensity and unexpected heart to a character unlike anything else in sci-fi television. The series becomes available to stream tomorrow, May 16, exclusively on Apple TV+.
Quotes from the Cast & Creators on Why To Watch Muderbot
David Dastmalchian
(The Dark Knight, Ant-Man, and Suicide Squad)
“Murderbot is 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. 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.”
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Tattiawna Jones
“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.”
justwatch.com/us/tv-show/murderbot#tattiawna-jones
Sabrina Wu
“An action sci-fi comedy that’s weird, uncomfortable and surprisingly sweet”
“This show has action, but also comedy and sweetness. But it also has Murderbot, who is sarcastic and smarmy. It’s really easy for anyone to find a piece of themselves in all of these different pockets of the show. The humor 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.”
justwatch.com/us/tv-show/murderbot#sabrina-wu
Chris Weitz (Co-Director)
“A bright and brutal 1980s sci-fi book cover come to life”
“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, and 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. It’s a world you might enjoy hanging out in for a bit. For me, [Murderbot] feels like the world of 1980s science fiction paperback covers, which are inherently fun to look at and contemplate.”
justwatch.com/us/tv-show/murderbot#chris-weitz
Paul Weitz (Co-Director)
“Sci-fi that feels recognizable and true to something”
“[Murderbot] doesn’t want to feel emotions. It doesn’t want any of that messy, horrible stuff. It doesn’t want human fluids. It doesn’t want to touch a human. It doesn’t want to make eye contact. It just wants to watch its shows and – if it has to – prevent people from getting killed. That, to me, is really relatable. The inner monologue aspect of it – the fact that it has a running narration of what’s going on – felt so recognizable, especially because that narration includes feeling
really skeptical about other people and skeptical about oneself. It feels really true to something.”
justwatch.com/us/tv-show/murderbot#paul-weitz
About Murderbot
Murderbot follows a self-aware security android who breaks free from its programming—only to discover that navigating human relationships may be harder than saving them. Based on the award-winning book series by Martha Wells, the Apple TV+ series delivers biting wit, thrilling action, and heartfelt introspection in equal measure.
About the Cast and Creators
David Dastmalchian
A scene-stealing chameleon, Dastmalchian made his debut in The Dark Knight (2008) and has since shined in Ant-Man, Prisoners, and The Suicide Squad. He also wrote and starred in indie horror gem Late Night with the Devil (2023), and now stars in Murderbot as Gurathin.
Tattiawna Jones
Known for roles in Flashpoint, The 100, and Dragged Across Concrete, Jones plays Arada in Murderbot, bringing grounded emotion and layered charm to the futuristic series.
Sabrina Wu
Breakout star of Joy Ride (2023), Wu brings their unique brand of alt-comedy to the role of a socially awkward cyborg. With stand-up roots and rising film credits, Wu is poised for stardom.
Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz
The Weitz brothers bring their genre-bending expertise (American Pie, About a Boy, Rogue One) to the series, directing Murderbot with a mix of heart, humor, and genre polish.
Categories: Movie And TV Talk / Trailers Stuff
