David Dastmalchian Joins Alexander Skarsgård In Apple Sci-Fi Series ‘Murderbot’

EXCLUSIVE: David Dastmalchian (Oppenheimer) has been tapped to star opposite Alexander Skarsgård on Apple TV+‘s new sci-fi series Murderbot from Academy Award nominees Chris and Paul Weitz (About a Boy, Mozart in the Jungle).

Based on Martha Wells’ bestselling book series The Murderbot Diaries, the 10-episode series is about a self-hacking security android who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable “clients.” Murderbot must hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe.

Dastmalchian plays Gurathin, a human whose gifts as a hacker are enhanced by an interface implanted within him.

Hailing from Paramount Television Studios, the show has The Weitz Brothers set to showrun, write, direct, and produce under their Depth of Field banner. Additional EPs include Andrew Miano for Depth of Field, David S. Goyer and Keith Levine for Phantom Four, and Skarsgård. Martha Wells serves as consulting producer. Casting has been overseen by Sharon Bialy and Russell Scott on behalf of Bialy/Thomas & Associates and John Buchan & Jason Knight on behalf of Buchan Knight Casting.

Part of the SAG Award-winning ensemble of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which leads in nominations at this year’s Oscars at a tally of 13, Dastmalchian will next be seen leading the acclaimed SXSW horror Late Night with the Devil, which hits theaters via IFC Films on March 22 and makes its way to Shudder on April 19.

Among Dastmalchian’s other upcoming projects are writer-director Mike Flanagan’s newest Stephen King flick, The Life of Chuck, and the Bryan Fuller film Dust Bunny. The actor is repped by Atlas Artists and attorney Duncan Hedges at Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.