The actor thought the show would be like ‘Terminator’ or ‘RoboCop’ until he read the script and found a socially awkward android who loves soap operas.
Alexander Skarsgård has played some of the most intense characters on television and film. From the vampire Eric Northman on True Blood to the revenge-driven prince in The Northman, he knows how to handle tough, testosterone-filled roles. So when he first heard about Apple TV+ series Murderbot, he was ready to walk away. The name alone made him think of another mindless killing machine. But what he found when he actually read the script surprised him completely.
Why Skarsgård Expected Another Testosterone Heavy Role
The Swedish actor, who stands at 6’4″, has built a career playing physically demanding characters. After finishing The Northman and the dark sci-fi film Infinity Pool, he felt tired. He told Collider that he was not looking for another project filled with macho energy and violence.
“I definitely expected the character to be a testosterone-filled tough guy kind of murderbot, and I was like, ‘Alright, I think I know what this is. It‘s in the vein of, like, Terminator or RoboCop. Something like that.’” – Alexander Skarsgård
The title Murderbot did not help either. Skarsgård admitted that when his team first told him about the show, he almost said no right away. He had just put his body through extreme training and emotional work for The Northman. The idea of playing another rough, aggressive character felt exhausting.
The Script Changed Everything
Everything shifted when Skarsgård finally sat down to read the script for Murderbot. The show is based on Martha Wells award winning book series The Murderbot Diaries. Instead of finding a cold killer, he found something much stranger and more interesting.
“But then I started reading it, and I was introduced to this socially awkward android who loves soap operas. That‘s a wonderful feeling when you start reading something, and you expect it to go in one direction, and you‘re completely blindsided.” – Alexander Skarsgård
The character, a Security Unit or SecUnit, has hacked its own governor module. This means it no longer has to obey human commands. But instead of going on a killing spree, it just wants to watch episodes of its favorite fictional soap opera called The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon. The robot finds human interactions annoying and awkward. It avoids eye contact, hates giving speeches, and would rather stay in the cargo bay than ride with the human scientists it is supposed to protect.
Skarsgård found this idea funny and fresh. He told Nottingham Post that he loved how the character has “no forward momentum.” The robot gets pulled into adventures very reluctantly. There is a quality of laziness and procrastination that the actor thought was hilarious.
A Needed Change After Intense Projects
For Skarsgård, Murderbot arrived at the perfect time. He described the show as the “palate cleanser” he needed. After years of playing dark and serious characters, he wanted to do something tonally different.
He explained that while The Northman and Infinity Pool were amazing experiences, they were also very intense. He was ready to try something lighter. The idea of playing a character with comedic beats, even if delivered with a completely straight face, excited him.
He also had another worry. He spent seven years on True Blood. While he called that experience “incredible,” he did not want to sign another long term TV contract unless he truly loved the part. After reading about the weird, antisocial robot, he decided that Murderbot was worth the commitment.
What Makes Murderbot Different From Other Robots
The show, created by Chris and Paul Weitz (known for About a Boy), sticks closely to Wells‘ book All Systems Red. Unlike action heroes such as the Terminator or RoboCop, Murderbot does not want to save the day. It wants to be left alone.
Murderbot protects a group of scientists from the Preservation Alliance. The team includes Dr. Ayda Mensah played by Noma Dumezweni, Gurathin played by David Dastmalchian, and others played by Sabrina Wu, Tattiawna Jones, Akshay Khanna, and Tamara Podemski. The humans try to treat the robot kindly. They offer it a seat in their vehicle and give it a uniform. This makes Murderbot deeply uncomfortable.
Skarsgård brings a specific energy to the role. Reviewers from The Hollywood Reporter noted that he uses his “Nordic reserve” and “ice blue eyes” to show emotions ranging from annoyance to reluctant care. He does not overact. Instead, he stays very still and lets the internal struggle play out on his face.
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How Fans and Critics Received the Show
Murderbot premiered on Apple TV+ on May 16, 2025. The first season has 10 episodes, each running about 25 minutes. Critics have shared mixed opinions. Some, like Entertainment Weekly, said the show is slow to start. Others, like WIRED, noted that the tone can feel uneven.
However, nearly every review agrees on one point. Alexander Skarsgård is perfect for the part. AV Club described his performance as a “droll delight.” Fans of the books have also noticed that the show keeps the character‘s dry, sarcastic voice intact.
Skarsgård‘s willingness to play a character who is not traditionally heroic makes the show stand out. In a crowded world of sci-fi television, Murderbot offers something different. It is a story about a machine that just wants to binge watch TV shows and ignore its job. For an actor who almost said no to the role, Skarsgård seems to be having the time of his life playing a grumpy robot.
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