Apple TV+ is bringing an adaptation of William Gibson’s classic cyberpunk novel Neuromancer to the small screen, and a BAFTA-nominated star has joined the cast. Regarded as one of the greatest science-fiction novels ever written, Neuromancer introduced classic genre staples, including underground computer hackers, cyberspace, and an early incarnation of “the matrix.” There have been attempts to bring the novel to the screen in the past, and Deadpool director Tim Miller was once attached to a movie adaptation, but nothing materialized. Now the novel is heading to TV in a 10-part adaptation on Apple TV+.
According to Deadline, the series has cast its leading man in BAFTA-nominated Masters of the Air actor Callum Turner. The show will follow a damaged super-hacker, played by Turner, who is thrust into a web of digital espionage and high-stakes crime with his partner Molly. The show is currently in pre-production, and will be developed by showrunner Graham Roland, and co-produced by Skydance Television, Anonymous Content, and Apple Studios.
While there is no doubt a Neuromancer film could have been one of the best cyberpunk movies of all-time, a TV show allows for a deeper and more textured exploration of the complex world Gibson created. The show will be another feather in Apple TV+’s cap, as the platform seeks to increase its content output to continue competing with the likes of Netflix and Prime Video. The ambitious project will have a lot of great creative minds involved, with JD Dillard set to direct the pilot.
A Neuromancer TV show will not be the first adaptation of Gibson’s work, as Prime Video created an adaptation of The Peripheral, which was renewed for season 2 before being cancelled amid the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. For Neuromancer, there is reason for optimism. A story as complex as this would have been unlikely to get a faithful adaptation on the big screen, so TV provides a better avenue through which to achieve this. Additionally, Apple TV+ is the best place for it, as the service has built a reputation for creating exciting and daring sci-fi shows.
While few details have been released so far about the Neuromancer TV adaptation, the casting of Turner comes off the back of the British actor’s successful role as part of the cast of Masters of the Air, and he looks set to be a strong lead for a complex and multi-layered show. Neuromancer readers might be skeptical of the ability to translate the story to a fresh medium, but Apple TV+ will be hopeful they have another hit on their hands.
Source: Deadline