An upcomingApple TV+cyberpunk show seems to have the potential to become the perfect replacement for a canceledNetflixsci-fi series. Netflix has an impressive catalog of hitsci-fi shows, likeDark,Stranger Things, andBlack Mirror, but not all of its shows from the genre have gotten the chance to reach a natural conclusion.
For instance, despite earning a massive cult following across the globe,The OAwas canceledafter two seasons, and many viewers still cannot help but feel disappointed by the highly ambitious show’s abrupt ending.I Am Not Okay With Thiswas another great show that was axed before it could reach its full narrative potential.
Almost 5 years ago,Netflix canceled another sci-fi masterpiece, which seems to have no chances of returning. Interestingly, however, Apple TV+ is all set to add a highly anticipated cyberpunk adaptation to its growing sci-fi slate, which could become a worthy replacement for the canceled Netflix series.
Netflix Canceled Altered Carbon After 2 Seasons, But Apple TV+’s Neuromancer Can Be Its Perfect Cyberpunk Successor
Neuromancer Can Perfectly Capture Altered Carbon’s Cyberpunk Spirit
An adaptation of William Gibson’s iconic sci-fi novel,Neuromancer, is in development on Apple TV+. On the surface,Neuromanceris significantly different from Netflix’sAltered Carbonin terms of how it handles its cyberpunk elements. However,Neuromancercould becomeAltered Carbon’s replacement and even surpass its acclaim and popularity for more reasons than one.
Neuromanceris often credited with being one of the most influential works in the cyberpunk subgenre, playing a crucial role in giving it a more concrete identity. Ideas surrounding dystopian corporate rule, cybernetically enhanced humans, and nearly sentient AI were first popularized byNeuromancerbefore they garnered a more mainstream appeal.
Both William Gibson’sNeuromancerand Richard K. Morgan’sAltered Carbonalsodabble with the philosophical themes surrounding the erosion of one’s identity due to the separation of consciousness from the physical body.
In both sci-fi narratives, characters also find themselves in bleak futuristic worlds with immense wealth disparity and constant surveillance.
While thecharacters inAltered Carbonare able to commodify their consciousness by transferring it between bodies or “sleeves," the ones inNeuromancerare able to jack their minds into the digital realm called cyberspace. In both sci-fi narratives, characters also find themselves in bleak futuristic worlds with immense wealth disparity and constant surveillance.
With so many intriguing similarities between the two cyberpunk narratives, it is hard not to seeApple TV+’s adaptation ofNeuromanceras the perfect successor to Netflix’s canceledAltered Carbon.
Neuromancer Could Pave The Way For Many Other Cyberpunk Book Adaptations
The Cyberpunk Genre To Be Explored More In Television
Despite being touted as the inspiration behind many other well-knownsci-fi movies likeGhost in the ShellandThe Matrix,Neuromancerwas never previously adapted for the big or small screens. Fortunately, Apple TV+ is finally delivering a live-action take on the classic sci-fi novel.
While only time will tell how the show will turn out, it has the potential to set the stage for other cyberpunk novel adaptations like William Gibson’sSprawl Trilogy, which includes two other follow-ups afterNeuromancer:Count ZeroandMona Lisa Overdrive.Neal Stephenson’sSnow Crash, George Alec Effinger’sWhen Gravity Fails, and Pat Cadigan’sSynnerswould also be great choicesfor TV adaptations.
Cyberpunk shows likeNetflix’sAltered Carbongave the sci-fi sub-genre a more polished and clean appearance.Amazon’s upcomingBlade Runnershowwill likely do something similar.Apple TV+‘sNeuromancer, however, could significantly shift the genre in a new direction with its gritty and rusty portrayal of a harrowing futuristic world.
Altered Carbon
Altered Carbon is set in the far future, at a time when a human’s consciousness can be stored in a device called a Stack and transferred into different bodies, allowing people who have the means to become functionally immortal. Takeshi Kovacs (Joel Kinnaman and Anthony Mackie), the former member of a rebellion against Stack technology, is awakened and released from prison so that he can be employed by a wealthy man to solve the man’s own murder. The Netflix original series is based on the 2002 novel of the same name by Richard K. Morgan.
Neuromancer
Cast
Neuromancer follows a hacker and an assassin entangled in a high-stakes criminal underworld. They navigate intricate plots and technological landscapes as they target a powerful corporate dynasty, blending elements of cyberpunk and thriller genres.
