Apple TV+’s newest comedy thriller seriesMurderbotfeatures a main character who is eerily similar to one of the most iconic robots from a classic science fiction franchise. Alexander Skarsgård leads thecast ofMurderbotas the titular character, a security android (or SecUnit) that considers itself a terrible failure at being a murderous robot. With plenty of dry, sarcastic humor, intense action scenes, and a surprisingly heartfelt message,Murderbotis one of thebest shows on Apple TV+. It’s also a tremendous addition to the sci-fi genre as a whole, and it even pays homage to the genre’s history.
Murderbot is already one of the best robots in sci-fi TV, partly because it has so many similarities to other iconic robots and androids. It has the same sarcastic wit as Bender fromFuturamaand the same curiousness and thoughtfulness about humanity as Data fromStar Trek: The Next Generation. There’s one robot from a truly iconic science fiction franchise that Murderbot is an almost perfect match for, however.Murderbot’s similarities toThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxyare plain to see, and the Apple TV+ series has even put its own twist on the sci-fi classic.
Apple TV+’s Murderbot Is Exceptionally Similar To The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy’s Marvin The Paranoid Android
Murderbot Is Overcompetent, Bored, & Filled With Negative Human Emotions, Just Like Marvin The Paranoid Android
One of the most famous robots from one of the most iconic franchises in science fiction history,Marvin the Paranoid Android inThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, is essentially the blueprint for Murderbot. Like Marvin, Murderbot is an artificial lifeform who has some baked-in negative human emotions. For Marvin, it’s depression and a lack of fulfillment; for Murderbot, it’s paranoia and social anxiety. They’re also both wildly more competent than their human peers. Marvin is unfathomably brilliant to the point that no task can fully demand its attention, and Murderbot is a security expert whose clients constantly choose to do the most dangerous things possible.
Marvin and Murderbot even interact with the world in similar ways. They both have an exceptionally sarcastic sense of humor, and they both struggle to find meaning in a world that has forced them to be servants.Paul Weisz, one of the showrunners for Apple TV+’s take onMurderbot, even speculated that Murderbot might have drawn inspiration from Marvin inThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy(viaRadio Times).
“…[T]here is sort of a, to me, really fascinating depressed robot in Hitchhiker’s Guide, which might have been an early predecessor to Murderbot.”
While Martha Wells, the original creator of Murderbot, hasn’t explicitly stated that she was inspired by Marvin the Paranoid Android, the similarities between him and Murderbot are plain to see. However,Murderbotalso puts a unique, modernized spin onThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’s clinically depressed robot.
Unlike Marvin, Murderbot Cures Its Boredom By Watching Trashy Television
Marvin Needed Big Problems To Occupy His Intellect, But Murderbot Just Needs Sanctuary Moon
For all their similarities, Marvin and Murderbot do have a few key differences. For instance, Marvin never truly finds fulfillment in his work, as his brain is the size of a planet and nothing can keep his attention long enough. Murderbot, on the other hand, cures its boredom by watching thousands of hours of trashy television shows likeThe Rise & Fall of Sanctuary Moon.Murderbot is also much less of a one-trick pony than Marvin is (at least in the 2005 movie), as it feels fear, love, pride, and countless other emotions in the course of its adventures.
Murderbotin general also has a much more nuanced take on its robotic main character thanH2G2does.Murderbotuses its titular SecUnit to tell a story about overcoming trauma, finding the courage to leave your comfort zone, and learning to accept love from unexpected people. Marvin’s story inH2G2is hilarious, but it doesn’t have much deeper meaning beyond the novel concept of an artificial lifeform who is so smart that the monotony of human life makes him depressed. It’s because of that key difference thatMurderbotis essentially a modernization of Marvin the Paranoid Android, and an exceptional one at that.
Murderbot Will Introduce Another Robot Who’s Even More Like Marvin If It Gets Renewed For Season 2
Murderbot’s Second Book Features ART, An Even Smarter & More Sarcastic Robot Than Murderbot
There is good news for bothMurderbotfans andH2G2fans.If Apple TV+ renewsMurderbotfor a second season, then the show will have a chance to introduce a new character who is even more similar to Marvin the Paranoid Android.Murderbotis based on theMurderbot Diariesbooks by Martha Wells. The second book in the series,Artificial Condition, introduces a ship bot named ART, which stands for A**hole Research Transport, which says a lot about its personality. ART is even smarter, more sarcastic, and bored than Murderbot is, and it’s an even better stand-in for Marvin.
The Perimeter
July 11
With any luck,Murderbotseason 2 will be renewed, and the Apple TV+ show can have a chance to give the world an even better replacement for Marvin the Paranoid Android.Murderbothas a fairly good shot at getting renewed, too. ItsRotten Tomatoesscore is exceptional at 97% with critics and 81% with audiences, and it already has seven award-winning books to draw new material from. Even if it doesn’t, though,Murderbotalready works as a spiritual successor toThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
Murderbot
Cast
Murderbot, released on August 13, 2025, is set in a high-tech future where a rogue security robot gains free will. To remain undetected, it must join a mission to protect scientists on a perilous planet, while its true desire is to indulge in watching soap operas.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a sci-fi comedy film directed by Garth Jennings. It follows Arthur Dent, played by Martin Freeman, who is unwittingly swept into an intergalactic adventure after Earth is destroyed. Arthur, along with Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox, and Trillian, explores space while consulting the titular guidebook. Sam Rockwell, Zooey Deschanel, and Mos Def co-star in this adaptation of Douglas Adams' beloved novel.
