Long before jacking into the Matrix became synonymous with Keanu Reeves and Supa-Star favourite Matt Doran’s woman in the red dress, the world of cyberpunk fiction was dominated by one name in particular. As the author first responsible for coining the phrase “cyberspace”, many of the themes and notions introduced by renowned cyberpunk author William Gibson have not only gone on to inspire the likes of The Matrix creators Lana and Lilly Wachowski, but they even helped shaped the way people thought about the rise of the internet itself.
Now, after years of repeated attempts and false-starts, Gibson’s best-known book is finally coming to your television screen. Set to be helmed by Graham Roland (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan) and J.D. Dillard (The Twilight Zone), Apple TV+ announced earlier this year that they had greenlit a 10-episode adaptation of Gibson’s seminal 1984 novel Neuromancer. With Apple’s other big sci-fi outings like Silo and Foundation already proving a hit with audiences, we thought it timely to take a look at what we can expect from the new Neuromancer show.
Where Have You Seen Gibson’s Work Before?
If you have had any dealings with cyberpunk-based games, fiction, or movies anytime in the past four decades, it’s likely you’ve already come face-to-face with many of Gibson’s ideas. Not only is his Sprawl trilogy (consisting of Neuromancer, Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive) considered some of the best-known and most influential works in the genre, but his writings would go on to inspire countless other writers, musicians, filmmakers, and game designers for years to come.
Anyone who has ever indulged in any form of entertainment that deals with the effects of technology, cybernetic implants, and immersive digital networks, has probably got Gibson to thank for laying much of the initial groundwork. Even if you’ve never picked up one of his books or short stories, you likely already know a great deal about the kind of fictional universes he helped to pioneer.
With this kind of widespread impact in mind, it’s unusual that it has taken 40 years for Neuromancer to finally make its way onto the screen. Of course, that’s not for lack of trying, and plans for a movie adaptation were once underway with Resident Evil’s Milla Jovovich being eyed for the role of Gibson’s cybernetically enhanced street samurai, Molly. For years, however, those plans would pass through multiple hands, even briefly falling into the lap of Deadpool director Tim Miller.
Mind you, Neuromancer is not Gibson’s only cyberpunk tale, and audiences might remember that before Keanu Reeves played Neo in The Matrix, he played also played the titular information smuggler in 1995’s Johnny Mnemonic. Interestingly, that movie is itself based on a short story that serves as a prequel to Neuromancer and even introduces Gibson’s infamous razor-girl Molly. Sadly, however, the movie adaptation removed Molly’s character and replaced her with Dina Meyer’s cybernetically enhanced Jane instead.
More recently, however, Gibson also saw his 2014 book The Peripheral adapted over on Amazon’s Prime Video with Chloë Grace Moretz in the leading role.
Who Is In The New ‘Neuromancer’ TV Show?
Apple’s plans for their own Neuromancer show were only first announced back in February this year, and so far, news surrounding the project has been scarce. That being said, showrunners Roland and Dillard have already found and announced their two actors.
While rumours once suggested that the role of Neuromancer’s super-hacker Case was being reserved for Top Gun Maverick’s Miles Teller, it was revealed in April that British actor Callum Turner (Masters of the Air) would serve as the show’s primary lead. Meanwhile, singer and actor Briana Middleton (Sharper) was announced as Molly in late June.
When Will ‘Neuromancer’ Arrive On Apple TV+?
At this stage, no official release date for the forthcoming Neuromancer show has been announced, and the last official progress update came in the form of Middleton’s casting announcement. However, if we are to take Apple TV+’s previous adaptation of Graham Yost’s Silo novels as a guide (which took two years to debut after its own announcement), audiences should probably expect it to arrive sometime in 2026.
With only 51 days to go until Supanova Comic Con & Gaming’s milestone 100th event, come meet beloved veteran of The Matrix, Matt Doran at Brisbane’s three-day extravaganza (8-10 November), with tickets on sale now via Moshtix!
