The ‘Murderbot’ Trailer Promises ‘I, Robot’ With A ‘Mickey 17’ Makeover

In an angsty, post-social-media era, the rising trend of quirky, irreverent sci-fi says it’s time to take intelligent tech in stride.

Based on Martha Wells’ cult-favorite series, Murderbot takes the sci-fi paranoia of I, Robot and dunks it in the weird, wry charm of Mickey 17. The result? A snarky, existential android story that laughs in the face of humanity’s old tech fears.

The titular Murderbot—yes, that’s the name it gave itself—was built to protect humans. Then it hacked its own code and decided to binge-watch soap operas instead. Now it’s free, fully sentient, and completely over everyone’s nonsense.

As AI and advanced tech become less “threatening overlord” and more “emotionally complex sidekick,” Murderbot leans into the absurdity with sharp wit and unexpected heart. The trailer teases a smart, funny, and slightly unsettling ride through a world where machines get the last word—and maybe even a few feelings.

Stream Murderbot on Apple TV+ starting May 16, 2025. And maybe start being a little nicer to your Roomba.