Copyright Screen Rant
One of the most highly anticipated upcoming sci-fi shows on Apple TV will be based on a cyberpunk novel that draws from the same comics as Blade Runner and Akira. Vince Gilligan's Pluribus has found its place among Apple TV's most acclaimed sci-fi shows by landing a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score. With this, the streaming service's sci-fi domination continues, allowing it to take bigger risks in the future. Speaking of risks, though, Apple TV's riskiest and potentially most ambitious sci-fi show is yet to come out. The Apple TV sci-fi show in question will be based on one of the most influential cyberpunk novels of all time, which drew inspiration from the comics that also influenced iconic movies like Blade Runner and Akira. While only time will tell how the show will turn out, its inspirations and common ground with epic sci-fi flicks alone highlight its immense potential. Apple TV Is Adapting William Gibson’s Neuromancer, Influenced By The Same Comics As Blade Runner & Akira One of Apple TV's most anticipated upcoming sci-fi shows is its adaptation of William Gibson's Neuromancer. Often considered one of the most foundational books for the cyberpunk sub-genre, Neuromancer has served as a creative blueprint for many sci-fi stories that have followed. From The Matrix to Ghost in the Shell, many renowned movies and shows have drawn from it. As an interesting piece of trivia reveals, Neuromancer's author, William Gibson, watched Ridley Scott's Blade Runner before his book was published. After noticing several similarities in Scott's portrayal of a cyberpunk future, Gibson could not help but grow concerned that the director's vision was far superior (via Gizmodo). William Gibson and Ridley Scott later met one another and discussed how they drew inspiration from "French adult comic books and their particular brand of Orientalia—the sort of thing that Heavy Metal magazine began translating in the United States." The Métal Hurlant comics Ridley Scott and William Gibson cited as their inspiration also significantly influenced director Katsuhiro Otomo's highly acclaimed 1988 movie, Akira. Sci-Fi Would Not Have Been The Same Without The Métal Hurlant Comics There were quite a few adult comics before Metal Hurlant stepped into the space. However, Metal Hurlant completely changed the game with its ethereal linework and baroque architecture, portraying novel alien worlds and futuristic technology. The comics' co-founder, Jean Giraud used the pseudonym Moebius to present works, like Arzach and The Airtight Garage that delivered never-seen-before portrayals of technological decay in gritty yet dreamlike landscapes. He later also worked on the short-story The Long Tomorrow, which paved the way for movies like Blade Runner and The Fifth Element with its portrayal of neon-lit cityscapes and trench-coated agents. In 1977, the Metal Hurlant comics arrived in the U.S. under the name Heavy Metal, which further expanded their influence on artists, filmmakers, and even game developers from all over the world. If it weren't for the comics, sci-fi likely would not have been as artistically bold and philosophically profound as it is today. Neuromancer Can Become Apple TV’s Most Valuable Sci-Fi IP Every time a streaming service picks up an ambitious sci-fi project, viewers grow skeptical about whether it can be pulled off. Apple TV, too, has been doubted several times. However, more often than not, the streaming service has delivered incredible shows in the sci-fi genre. Its continued success proves that it has been ready to handle something like Neuromancer for a long time, even though the book was previously considered "unadaptable." Although Apple TV already has quite a few solid sci-fi IPs under its belt right now, Neuromancer has the potential to become its best. If the Neuromancer TV show turns out to be successful, Apple TV can expand its vision with the series and even adapt William Gibson's entire Sprawl trilogy, which includes two other books after Neuromancer: Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive. Apple TV's Neuromancer is being created by Graham Roland (Prison Break, Lost, Fringe) and J. D. Dillard (The Twilight Zone, The Outsider). It is expected to release sometime in 2026.
