In the AppleTV+ comedy based on Martha Wells' "Muderbot" books, Skarsgård endured body waxing pain to play an awkward killing robot.

When it comes to adaptation, Martha Wells' Murderbot Diaries series is a tricky beast.The series' main appeal is its titular character's inner monologue, a charming blend of snark and social awkwardness.

Starring Alexander Skarsgård as a heavily armored, helmet-clad “Security Unit”—who has to hide the fact that it’s no longer under corporate control, lest it take a one-way trip to the deadly “acid baths” for recycling—the series walks a sometimes idiosyncratic line between comedy and much darker ideas.