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What to expect from a futuristic adventure starring ALEXANDER SKARSGÅRD

- SEAN MARLAND

MURDERBOT NEW FROM FRI 16 MAY, APPLE TV+ SCI-FI (FIRST TWO EPS FROM 16 MAY, THEN WEEKLY)

The world of science fiction is awash with rogue robots who turn against their creators. But, fear not, the android at the centre of new sci-fi action comedy Murderbot is far more interested in watching space soap operas than carrying out killing sprees...

Launching on Apple TV+ with a double bill, the 10-part series is set in a distant future where interstellar travel is commonplace. Big Little Lies star Alexander Skarsgård leads the cast as a self-hacking security construct - or SecUnit - that secretly manages to override a piece of programming designed to ensure it follows the orders of its owners and clients.

Despite being good at protecting others and not particularly bloodthirsty, the cyborg decides to rename itself 'Murderbot'. Knowing that grave danger lies ahead if its new-found freedom of choice is discovered, it decides to hide the truth while trying to figure out its place in the universe.

'It's all new territory for Murderbot, who's been behind a wall, a facade, a helmet,' shares Alexander, 48, who also serves as an executive producer on the project. 'It begins to remove its barriers, but that doesn't solve everything for Murderbot. It opens some doors, but it closes some others. It still doesn't really know what it wants.'

INTO THE UNKNOWN

In this week’s two episodes, Murderbot is hired by scientific research organisation PresAux - 'space hippies' from an independent grouping of planets known as the Preservation Alliance, which thrives on its ethos of equality and respect. Led by Dr Ayda Mensah (played by Black Earth Rising and