Latest news with #Skarsgård
The Review Geek
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Has Murderbot been renewed for Season 2? Here's what we know:
Renewed Or Cancelled? Murderbot is the latest comedic sci-fi on Apple, successfully adapting the book sporting the same name and adding 10 highly enjoyable and humorous episodes to boot. So after watching it in its entirety, you may be wondering if this has been renewed or cancelled. Here's what we know: What is Murderbot about? Based on the award-winning, best-selling series by Martha Wells, Murderbot follows a rogue security unit that's self-hacked itself free of company restraints, only to find itself horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients. Played by Skarsgård, Murderbot is forced to hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe. We have ongoing coverage of Murderbot on the site including recaps of every episode. You can find those HERE! Has Murderbot been renewed for season 2? At the time of writing, Murderbot has not been renewed for season 2. Generally Apple would gauge numerous metrics before renewing a show, including how many people initially watch it and then looking at the drop-off rate. With some shows, cancellations or renewals happen quickly. Other times, it can take months before a decision over a show's future is made. So far, Murderbot has had a really good reaction from critics and audiences alike, with many commenting (including ourselves) that the plot and humour both work really well together. Given the way this show is set up, we're predicting that this will be renewed for a second season. The series does have plenty of potential and we know that the series has been highly popular too, with it nestling within the top 20 chart on IMDB's popularity meter, along with simple and easily digestible episodes. However, we could be completely wrong, given Apple don't always renew every show, so take our prediction with a pinch of salt! What we know about season 2 so far: Barely anything is known about season 2 at this point as Apple haven't officially renewed this one. Should it be renewed, we have some big questions. What will happen to Murderbot and the Preservation Society? Will we see a return of the same characters as before? And will Murderbot ever watch another show other than Sanctuary Moon? It seems unlikely but if this series is renewed, we'd expect it to be green-lit with another 10 episode order, and bring back a lot of the old cast too. Do you want to see Murderbot return for a second season? What did you think of the show? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Los Angeles Times
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
In ‘Murderbot,' an anxious scientist and an autonomous robot develop a workplace-trauma bond
Alexander Skarsgård was initially worried 'Murderbot' would be too dark. The actor had come off a string of intense films, including 'The Northman' and 'Infinity Pool,' and he was looking for something more comedic. The title of the series, based on Martha Wells' popular science fiction books, didn't suggest it would be particularly funny. 'I wasn't familiar with Martha's novellas, so I just heard the title and I heard 'sci-fi,' ' Skarsgård says, speaking over the phone from Los Angeles. 'If you're not familiar with the books, you think it's probably going to be an incredibly testosterone-driven, tough guy android kicking ass in space. But I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading [the script]. I had never encountered a character like this.' The actor was so struck by the titular character that he not only signed on to star in the Apple TV+ series but also joined as an executive producer alongside creators Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz. 'Talking to Chris and Paul and getting to know them got me even more excited,' he says. 'They're so brilliant, and their vision for the character and for the show got me fired up.' Season 1, which began streaming in May, is based on 'All Systems Red,' the first book in Wells' futuristic series 'The Murderbot Diaries.' It follows a private security cyborg, known as a 'SecUnit,' who hacks its governing module, allowing it newfound autonomy. An eclectic group of researchers, led by Dr. Mensah (Noma Dumezweni), are forced to accept the SecUnit as part of a planetary mission, and it slowly begins to learn the way of humans. The relationship between Mensah and their SecUnit, who refers to itself as Murderbot, is charmingly awkward. The pair are forced to trust each other as the mission goes awry, leading to an unlikely friendship. In 'Command Feed,' the sixth episode released on Friday, Mensah saves Murderbot from destruction by reluctantly performing surgery on its wiring. 'Is that what they call trauma bonding in this day and age?' Dumezweni says of the scene in a separate interview over Zoom from New York, where she is preparing to star in 'Duke & Roya' on Broadway. 'Filming it was extraordinary because the special effects guys were amazing. It [Murderbot] was literally in front of me, but that obviously wasn't Alexander. It looked so real.' 'That dynamic was led by the script, and it was very interesting,' Skarsgård adds. 'It was clear that Mensah would be an empathetic character. And Murderbot is not used to being treated respectfully by humans or even being treated as a sentient construct. He's always been a piece of equipment. Noma and I talked a lot about it. It was a gold mine to explore because there's so much comedy in their differences.' Leading a TV series is a first for Dumezweni, who has previously been cast in smaller roles. She wasn't convinced by the initial pitch at first because sci-fi hasn't traditionally had a lot of major roles for actors of color. 'Usually I'd come in and play the receptionist,' she says. 'I love to watch sci-fi. But I wondered: Who am I going to be in this sci-fi world?' However, once she learned more about the world and the character, the actor changed her mind. 'It was an absolute joy to discover that there was nothing that Chris and Paul had to change to make it representational,' Dumezweni says. 'It's lovely not to have to fight for people's positions in the world based on their skin color.' Both actors were drawn to the series in part because of its unique tone, which lands somewhere between action, comedy and drama. Murderbot is stoic but awkward and unaccustomed to human emotions, which it learns about by surreptitiously watching hours of soap operas. Mensah's Preservation Alliance team is composed of misfits, including David Dastmalchian's Gurathin and Sabrina Wu's Pin-Lee, who often confound Murderbot's expectations. The laughs don't come from intentional punchlines, but instead from situational circumstances and Murderbot's dry voice-over, as well as its disinterest in dealing with humans. 'The writing was so surprising and different and had such a unique tone from the beginning,' Skarsgård says. 'What works is that it has this instant combination of being a big, action-packed sci-fi show, but it's also a workplace comedy.' Because the voice-over is essential to the story, getting it right took a lot of trial and error. Skarsgård says he worried about how it would be incorporated during shooting, particularly because Murderbot is so expressionless and not very verbose in many of the actual scenes. 'How would we juxtapose that with an inner monologue that is more expressive?' he says. 'How do you find a fun and interesting balance between the way Murderbot speaks and the way he thinks?' The voice-over became an evolving component of the episodes. On set, an assistant director would sometimes read the narration off camera if it felt relevant for the actors to hear during a particular scene. After filming, Skarsgård, Chris and Paul got together in Stockholm, New York and Los Angeles for several recording sessions to try out different versions of the voice-over lines. 'It was quite exhausting, but also quite fun creatively because you could see how much the tone of the scene changed when we tweaked the voice-over a little bit,' Skarsgård says. 'You could have a moment where there's no voice-over, and it's like a non-moment where nothing happens. But then just by adding a little commentary by Murderbot, it suddenly pops into a funny little moment.' Although the series adheres to Wells' book, some aspects of the characters have been expanded. In the show, Mensah struggles with anxiety in a few vulnerable moments, which differs from her portrayal on the page. Dumezweni says she has observed some pushback from fans of the book about the changes, an experience she understands from playing Hermione Granger in 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' when it opened in the West End. 'That's what you have to do in film and TV,' she says. 'You have to expand, not change. You have to fill in. I love it because only Murderbot can see what's happening to her in that moment. None of her team can see it until Episode 4. I love those moments. For me, they grow her.' For Dumezweni, these scenes give Mensah a point of connection for the audience, as does the way Murderbot is 'autism-coded,' as some fans have noted. Skarsgård says the creators didn't set out to make the character overtly neurodivergent in the series. 'It's very clear when you read the novellas and the scripts that it is a character who is not always comfortable in settings with other people and can find interactions with humans tricky to navigate,' Skarsgård says. 'To me, it was a character we hoped would be relatable to people in the neurodivergent community, but also in a lot of fans in the LGBTQ community. Murderbot not having a gender or being subscribed to binary sexuality could be relatable, but it's natural to Murderbot. That was important — this is how Murderbot was created, and none of this [identity] is a big deal to Murderbot.' At the core of the show is the concept of Murderbot's free will, something that gets more fully explored in upcoming episodes. 'It's now understanding it has free will truly and that there are choices to be made in the world,' Dumezweni says. 'Meeting these people gives it a chance to understand that not all human beings are idiots.' 'For me, the inner journey for Murderbot over the course of the season is about what to do with that autonomy,' Skarsgård adds. 'The character has unleashed something inside of itself by hacking the governing module and gaining this independence. The journey becomes: I have this autonomy now, but who am I? What am I capable of? What am I willing to do? What are my desires?' Although 'Murderbot' has yet to be renewed for a second season, there is a lot of source material available. Wells has written seven books featuring Murderbot, and Skarsgård is excited about the potential for more episodes. 'I love Murderbot,' he says. 'I love playing Murderbot. Chris and Paul are not only supremely talented but incredibly nice and generous. If you talk to anyone who worked on the show, I guarantee that everyone had the time of their lives.' The remaining four episodes will reveal the antagonist behind the attacks on the Preservation Alliance and whether they'll successfully be able to escape the planet. They also offer essential backstory into characters like Mensah and Gurathin. 'I can't wait for people to see each and every story,' Dumezweni says. 'And what Alex does in the last two episodes is amazing. I don't care if I'm in no more seasons, but Alexander Skarsgård has to carry on making seasons of 'Murderbot.' He does so much with the tiniest movement of his face. He is extraordinary and he honors the character beautifully.' 'Murderbot's job will get harder and harder trying to protect these very lovely but also quite naive and inexperienced humans,' Skarsgård says. 'It's not a spoiler to say that eventually Murderbot will care about these humans, but we didn't want to rush into that. We leaned in slowly. So much of the comedy results from the character's absolute reluctance to save their lives.'
The Review Geek
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Murderbot Episode 5 Preview: Release Date, Time & Where To Watch
Murderbot Based on the award-winning, best-selling series by Martha Wells, Murderbot follows a rogue security unit that's self-hacked itself free of company restraints, only to find itself horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients. Played by Skarsgård, Murderbot is forced to hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe. If you've been following this one, you may be curious to find out when the next episode is releasing. Well, wonder no more! Here is everything you need to know about Murderbot episode 5, including its release date, time and where you can watch this. Where Can I Watch Murderbot? Murderbot is available to stream on AppleTV+. This is an exclusive original series, meaning this is the only place you're going to be able to watch this show. However, now that Apple is available as an extension on Amazon Prime Video, you can also get a subscription to AppleTV+ that way too! Murderbot Episode 5 Release Date Murderbot Episode 5 will release on Friday 6th June at approximately 12am (ET/PT) / 5am (GMT). Of course, it's really dependent on how quickly Apple upload new episodes. Expect this to be pretty close to the release time though. Murderbot Episode 5 is also available with subtitles from its release, with the chapter scheduled to clock in at 32 minutes long. How Many Episodes Will Your Murderbot Season 1 Have? Season 1 of Murderbot is scheduled for 10 episodes, so we've got 5 more episodes to go after this one. Expect the story to continue developing, with plenty of drama still to come! Is There A Trailer For Murderbot? There is indeed! You can find a trailer for Murderbot Season 1 below: What Happened in Episode 4? We'll have the whole episode covered with a lengthy recap that touches on all major plot points and discusses the chapter with an accompanying review. You can find that link below after release: Read more: Murderbot – Episode 4 Recap & Review What do you hope to see as the series progresses? What's been your favorite moment of Murderbot so far? Let us know in the comments below!
The Review Geek
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Murderbot Episode 4 Preview: Release Date, Time & Where To Watch
Murderbot Based on the award-winning, best-selling series by Martha Wells, Murderbot follows a rogue security unit that's self-hacked itself free of company restraints, only to find itself horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients. Played by Skarsgård, Murderbot is forced to hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe. If you've been following this one, you may be curious to find out when the next episode is releasing. Well, wonder no more! Here is everything you need to know about Murderbot episode 4, including its release date, time and where you can watch this. Where Can I Watch Murderbot? Murderbot is available to stream on AppleTV+. This is an exclusive original series, meaning this is the only place you're going to be able to watch this show. However, now that Apple is available as an extension on Amazon Prime Video, you can also get a subscription to AppleTV+ that way too! Murderbot Episode 4 Release Date Murderbot Episode 4 will release on Friday 30th May at approximately 12am (ET/PT) / 5am (GMT). Of course, it's really dependent on how quickly Apple upload new episodes. Expect this to be pretty close to the release time though. Murderbot Episode 4 is also available with subtitles from its release, with the chapter scheduled to clock in at 32 minutes long. How Many Episodes Will Your Murderbot Season 1 Have? Season 1 of Murderbot is scheduled for 10 episodes, so we've got 6 more episodes to go after this one. Expect the story to continue developing, with plenty of drama still to come! Is There A Trailer For Murderbot? There is indeed! You can find a trailer for Murderbot Season 1 below: What Happened in Episode 3? We'll have the whole episode covered with a lengthy recap that touches on all major plot points and discusses the chapter with an accompanying review. You can find that link below after release: Read more: Murderbot – Episode 3 Recap & Review What do you hope to see as the series progresses? What's been your favorite moment of Murderbot so far? Let us know in the comments below!
Metro
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
I saw the 2025 Cannes film with a 19-minute ovation and here's my verdict
After making waves at Cannes Film Festival with its 15-minute standing ovation (or 19-minute, depending on which clapometer you trust most), the longest for 2025, I knew I had to go out of my way to make sure I saw Sentimental Value. As one of 22 films in competition for Cannes' top honour, the prestigious Palme D'Or, that rapturous reception put its name on everybody's lips at the festival – and at the top of the list to win. And I'd agree, as one of the most impressive and impactful films I saw at Cannes this year. Sentimental Value (Affeksjonsverdi in its native Norway) provides a fascinating window into a dysfunctional family in Oslo and all the hurt they've witnessed and carried over the generations in their faded but quirky home. It's emotional and powerful without being overblown, managing to remain entirely realistic in its story and interpersonal relationships without ever slipping into the mundane – and it's also peppered throughout with quite dark humour. In hands less assured than that of director and co-writer Joachim Trier, we might be saying 'so what?' of a film about a washed-up filmmaker (Stellan Skarsgård) trying to reconnect with the daughters he walked out on after divorcing their mother as a child, wooing the one who has become a successful actress in her own right with a part written specially for her in his new movie. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video But Sentimental Value not only handles these tensions expertly but makes the house of the Borg family – being packed up by sisters Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) after their mother's death – a character in its own right. Indeed, it's introduced first of anyone in the film's opening moments, and we learn more about its curious composition and its previous inhabitants in scenes interspersed throughout the film. Skarsgård's Gustav actually wants to make a film about his mother, who died by suicide in the house when he was a young boy after being tortured by Nazis during the war. Trier previously delighted Cannes in 2021 with The Worst Person in the World, which won previous collaborator Reinsve the best actress prize and went on to nab two Oscar nominations. And not that this should count for the quality of Sentimental Value, which speaks for itself, but – curiously – should it win, it would give co-distributor Neon the record-breaking honour of a sixth consecutive Palme win, following previous victors Parasite, Titane, Triangle of Sadness, Anatomy of a Fall, and last year's winner, Anora. Perhaps Sentimental Value's loudest argument for victory at Cannes though is its brilliant powerhouse performances: Skarsgård enjoys the best role he's had in years as a charismatic but arrogant and slightly desperate 70-year-old, determined to evoke past glories. Capturing all the shades required in a role this complex – and some – this could mark Skarsgård's first Oscar nomination in an otherwise storied career. And as for his character's comeback goal, that would also mean casting his grandson in his new film – despite the reluctance of the boy's mother, younger sister Agnes (Lilleaas), who once starred in a film of her father's 20 years ago, before leaving the profession after feeling abandoned by him post-production. Lilleaas provides a perfect counter-balance to Reinsve's anger and hostility towards her father as Nora, which manifests in a panic attack ahead of her new stage performance. When Nora turns down her father's offer of a role, he instead recruits Hollywood starlet Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning, continuing a run of great performances in a notably wide variety of films), who is charmed by him at a film festival and eager to please. But the film is, undeniably, Reinsve's, who allows Trier to expose the full range of her talents like a raw nerve; I expect to see her name in contention too come awards season. Lest this all sound overly angsty though, the family shares a propensity towards dry humour which flares up from time to time – like when Gustav tells Rachel she's sitting on the stool his mother stepped off to end he life, only for Agnes to later reveal it's from Ikea. Or when Gustav buys his grandson a bunch of arthouse DVDs for his ninth birthday, including cult erotic thriller The Piano Teacher, as you do. There's also an all-too-familiar junket scene in which Gustav and Rachel, pre-plugging the film after partnering with Netflix, end up partaking in an interview that becomes every journalist's most embarrassing nightmare. More Trending My only quibble with Sentimental Value is that it does start to tread water a little as it nears the end. As with virtually every film I've seen during the 2025 edition of Cannes, it could have lost 20 minutes from its 135-minute run-time. But should it prove victorious at Saturday's closing ceremony then I'll consider it a worthy victor. Sentimental Value premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. It is yet to receive a UK release date. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 10 red carpet looks at Cannes that broke the rules in 2025 MORE: Not even a 443-foot cargo ship crashing into his garden could wake this man MORE: Pedro Pascal's arms are still bringing us joy — and PTs say they're within reach
