Alexander Skarsgård Says Being ‘Emotionally Unavailable’ Prepared Him for ‘Murderbot’

The Parting Shot with H. Alan Scott

How did Alexander Skarsgård prepare to play a security robot that starts to find free will in Apple TV+’s Murderbot (May 16)? “Well, I’ve spent 48 years being emotionally unavailable. That’s a good start.” [laughs] Skarsgård plays the titular character Murderbot, which must hide its ability for free thought while tackling dangerous assignments for the humans it has been assigned to. Oh, and it binge watches a fictional soap opera. “I think Murderbot watches [The Rise and Fall of] Sanctuary Moon and other soap operas as a kind of anthropological study. It’s a way to understand humans and humanity from a safe distance.” Part of the appeal of the story for Skarsgård was the genre itself. “There are no limitations. When you create a sci-fi show, you’re not bound to the rules or restrictions here on Earth. You can let your creativity flow.” And while Skarsgård doesn’t “foresee a romantic relationship,” there is one rather revealing full frontal scene that actually says quite a bit. “Murderbot is created for one purpose and one purpose only—security. So why give him genitals?”

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