Cyberpunk fiction now a Netflix Original

Joel Kinnaman stars in “Altered Carbon.”

Netflix’s latest original adult sci-fi series “Altered Carbon,” based on the groundbreaking cyberpunk novel by Richard Morgan, will transport the viewers into a new reality that boasts of revolutionary visuals, extraordinary action and an intense landscape filled with cutting-edge themes. “Altered Carbon” takes off from the acclaimed book with 10 episodes that stars Joel Kinnaman, Martha Higareda, Dichen Lachman, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Chris Conner, Trieu Tran, Will Yun Lee and James Purefoy.

In the world of “Altered Carbon,” death is not inevitable. After three centuries, humans can store their consciousness on downloadable disks and then be “spun up” into a new body, or “sleeve.” In the midst of this twisted reality is Takeshi Kovacs (Kinnaman), a mercenary and rebel who has returned to life 300 years in the future and forced to find a killer.

Executive producer Laeta Kalogridis, screenwriter of “Shutter Island” and ” Terminator Genisys,” said “Morgan’s book is such a seminal sci-fi text” that serves as the series’ blueprint. “It’s a very serious sci-fi story about a technology that allows life to be extended indefinitely. Yet in no way was the story removed from completely identifiable human emotions. It has all the bells and whistles of great sci-fi, but at its heart is a very human story. And it was noir, which I love.”

Kinnaman said “working with Laeta has been an exciting experience. I read the book, and I sort of had one vision of Kovacs, while Laeta saw the character differently. And then when I understood her vision of it, and we sort of met halfway, it created something that I think neither of us had imagined. We joined forces and created something new.”

“Altered Carbon” is now streaming in Netflix.

Read more...