Author William Gibson defined the cyberpunk genre with his 1984 novel Neuromancer. Despite many of Gibson’s other works being adapted for film, his masterpiece remains untouched. However, Apple TV has announced that plans are underway to adapt the classic novel as a 10-part television series.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, a Neuromancer adaptation has been in development for several years. The show will be produced as a co-production of Skydance Television and Anonymous Content. Dark Winds creator Graham Roland will serve as the series’ showrunner. Twilight Zone director J.D. Dillard has been signed to direct the first episode.
Why the Neuromancer series is important
To call Neuromancer a definitive work of fiction vastly undersells its importance. The novel was released at a time when the first personal computers were just becoming accessible to the general public. It was also long before the Internet became a staple of everyday life. Neuromancer was one of the first works to truly explore the idea of an online society and the ramifications technology would have on humanity.
The novel centers around Case, a hacker and hustler who enters computers through a neural interface. Left unable to “jack into cyberspace” after being poisoned by a former employer, Case is desperate for a return to his former prowess. His chance arrives after he is recruited by the mysterious Armitage, who promises to heal Case in exchange for his help with a theft.
While the basic plot is a simple heist story, Neuromancer presented a unique take on technology that was more grounded in reality.. Most popular science fiction presented a clean, shining future, with little examination of the dark side of society. Gibson explored how technology would change everything from prostitution to petty crime. Beyond predicting how the online world would cater to base needs, Gibson also explored the dangers of artificial intelligence and artificial augmentations. The relevance of these issues in the real world some 40 years later makes the adaptation of Neuromancer particularly timely.
