Apple TV’s New 10/10 Cyberpunk Hit Is the Perfect Altered Carbon Replacement

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Netflix upset many cyberpunk enthusiasts in August 2020 by canceling Altered Carbon after just two seasons and an animated spin-off. The series was based on Richard K. Morgan’s 2002 cyberpunk novel of the same name. Fortunately, a new adaptation of Morgan’s work is currently being made for Apple TV and is expected to fill the void left by Altered Carbon.

The upcoming project will be strongly inspired by William Gibson’s groundbreaking 1985 novel, Neuromancer. Gibson is widely considered the creator of the cyberpunk genre, having developed many of its ideas in his short stories before writing the novel. Although Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner is often seen as the defining cyberpunk film, Gibson’s Johnny Mnemonic, published in 1984, actually established many of the key themes and ideas that would later become central to the genre – and these are also prominent in Neuromancer. The short story Johnny Mnemonic was later made into a 1995 film starring Keanu Reeves.

William Gibson’s Neuromancer Paved the Way for Altered Carbon

William Gibson’s writing style was strongly shaped by the classic film noir of the 1940s and 50s. His stories often explored the complex and sometimes disturbing relationship between people and technology, particularly the idea of merging the human body with machines.

A major worry in these stories was the growing power of businesses in cities. Characters often escaped from the control of huge corporations that didn’t treat everyday people very well.

Considering Altered Carbon in relation to its influences, it’s evident that Richard K. Morgan drew heavily from Neuromancer, though his work is far from a simple imitation. Many other popular works, such as The Matrix, Ghost in the Shell, and Akira, were also inspired by William Gibson’s style and themes.

His impact on the genre is so significant that it’s nearly impossible for any author to avoid being influenced by his work, even if they try. For instance, while authors like Morgan have attempted to create their own unique take on cyberpunk in both books and TV shows, the core ideas originally established by him are still clearly visible.

The series Altered Carbon centers on Takeshi Kovacs, an ex-soldier and mercenary, who is hired by the wealthy Laurens Bancroft to investigate his own murder. Bancroft is a ‘Meth,’ meaning he has achieved a form of immortality through technology.

He’s incredibly rich and powerful, able to essentially ‘reset’ himself by transferring his consciousness to cloned bodies or remote backups. This provides a safeguard against death. The story clearly draws on classic detective fiction, explores the blending of people and technology, and expresses skepticism towards the very wealthy.

Neuromancer’s Cyberpunk Themes Will Appeal to Altered Carbon Fans

Fans of William Gibson should enjoy the similarities between Altered Carbon and his books, and Neuromancer is the perfect story to turn to now that Netflix has cancelled Altered Carbon. It’s a great way to continue experiencing that kind of sci-fi adventure.

The popularity of games like Cyberpunk 2077, and shows such as Robot and Westworld, suggests the world might now be more receptive to cyberpunk themes than when Altered Carbon first appeared. It’s almost as if Altered Carbon paved the way for works like Neuromancer to finally gain traction – and that moment has been a long time coming.

Apple TV+’s recent series isn’t the first attempt to adapt William Gibson’s novel. Since the early 2000s, filmmakers have tried, but faced challenges. One notable effort involved music video director Chris Cunningham and musician Aphex Twin, with Gibson’s approval. However, the project fell apart when the studio wouldn’t grant Cunningham complete creative freedom and final say over the editing.

So, a lot of directors cycled through this project – even big names like Tim Miller, who did Deadpool, Chuck Russell from The Mask, and Vincenzo Natali, known for Splice. Natali actually had Mel Gibson fully on board, but somehow, it still didn’t come together. It’s a bit of a frustrating story, honestly, seeing all this potential fall apart time and again.

Apple officially announced the 10-episode series Neuromancer, created by Graham Roland and JD Dillard, in February 2024. After another significant wait, a video from the set in July 2025 confirmed that production had begun.

What Do We Know About Apple TV’s Neuromancer?

Based on the novel, Neuromancer features Callum Turner (known from Masters of the Air) as Case, a troubled computer hacker. He joins forces with Molly, a skilled assassin with cybernetic enhancements and striking mirror-like eyes (played by Briana Middleton from Sharper), to carry out a risky robbery targeting a powerful corporation in the futuristic city of Chiba, Japan.

Case and Molly are attempting to steal a special chip that holds the digitally preserved mind of Case’s former teacher, a famous hacker. They quickly realize they’re in over their heads, caught in a dangerous world of corporate secrets, cyber-spying, and advanced AI. It’s a high-tech story of hacking, body modifications, and digital consciousness – think Altered Carbon, but with its own unique spin.

The new show features rising stars Turner and Middleton, alongside established actors like Mark Strong (known from Kick-Ass) as a secretive former military officer named Armitage, and Clémence Poésy (Tenet) as Marie-France Tessier, the heir to an AI empire. Joseph Lee (Beef) plays Tessier’s ninja bodyguard, Hideo, and Emma Laird (Mayor of Kingstown) appears as Linda Lee, the love interest of one of the main characters. Peter Sarsgaard, Dane DeHaan, Max Irons, and Marc Menchaca also star. JD Dillard, who has directed for Jordan Peele and the film Sweetheart, will direct the first episode.

With significant investment going into the production, and Apple TV+’s track record of delivering high-quality sci-fi, anticipation for the show should be high. After all, Apple TV+ is the perfect home for a series like Neuromancer, considering the success of shows like Silo, Foundation, For All Mankind, Invasion, and Severance.

However, there’s a potential issue that could prevent Neuromancer from becoming the next big hit like Altered Carbon, which many fans are hoping for. This problem isn’t necessarily something Apple can fix, but it often happens when adapting stories people thought couldn’t be adapted for the screen.

Because Neuromancer is such a classic and has influenced so many later works—including TV shows, books, and video games—some new audiences might mistakenly think it borrowed ideas from those things, rather than the other way around.

Gibson’s novel features a character who enters a virtual world called the ‘matrix,’ an idea the Wachowskis famously borrowed for The Matrix films. They always acknowledged Gibson’s huge impact on their work, but viewers new to Neuromancer might not realize this connection. It remains to be seen if this lack of awareness will affect how the show is received.

As a huge sci-fi fan, I’m really excited about the upcoming Neuromancer series on Apple TV+ – I heard they’re making a 10-episode adaptation and it should be out in late 2026. If you’re looking for something similar to watch right now, I’d recommend checking out Altered Carbon on Netflix; it’s got two seasons available and I thought it was pretty great.

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2026-06-09 00:35