INTERVIEW: DeWanda Wise Talks ‘Murderbot,’ ‘Sanctuary Moon’ And Comedy

Apple TV+’s sci-fi adaptation Murderbot does something clever by giving us a show within a show: The Rise & Fall of Sanctuary Moon. This in-universe series is a space soap opera that feels like a mashup of Star Trek and How to Get Away With Murder. As we follow the titular Murderbot, we’re also drawn into the dramatic storylines of Sanctuary Moon that is complete with its own theme song and an impressively cast ensemble. The lineup includes John Cho as the Captain, Clark Gregg as the Lieutenant, DeWanda Wise as NavigationUnit, and Jack McBrayer as the Navigation Officer.

Nexus Point News spoke with DeWanda Wise about stepping into the wonderfully over-the-top world of Sanctuary Moon, shows within shows, and how playing a sentient NavigationUnit let her flex both her comedy and sci-fi muscles.

Demet: Hi, how are you doing today?

DeWanda: Well, how are you doing?

Demet: I'm great, thank you! First of all, how did you get involved in this project?

DeWanda: I had worked with Paul on Fatherhood. He literally texted me and was like, "do you want to play a murderous robot?"

Demet: So what was your reaction when you realized you'd be playing a character in a show within a show that's deliberately a melodramatic sci-fi soap opera?

DeWanda: It's so funny: show within the show. I have a nerdy actor list of things I wanted to do and roles I wanted to play, and I'm obsessed with show within the show. I'm crazy about show within a show, especially when it's really well done and it's integral to how we understand one of the main protagonists in the actual story. There's just nothing better, and obviously playing with such iconic comedians, I knew it was just going to be a few days of great play.

Demet: Were there challenges to intentionally acting more theatrical or cheesy for this role?

DeWanda: No, I think we all played it. We all have whatever comedic sensibilities that we're coming in with, but there's a balance. Paul is really good for that, if anything, when I first came in, I was playing the AI version far more robotic, and he was like, "no, let's bring it back to naturalism." So I think in order for you to really feel like this is a show that this guy takes seriously and he thinks is high art, we had to play it seriously and then trust that the costumes, the wardrobe, the sets, all the other elements and all the technical elements would do their job. Oh my gosh, that song... The theme song is so good, it's brilliant. So for the most part, it is just a natural comedy muscle.

© Apple TV+

Demet: Yeah. It looks amazing and it looks so fun. There's this romantic arc too, and some revenge... It was so, so cool to watch.

DeWanda: So yeah, I feel like we've been deprived of John's role in romantic lead roles... So it's fun if it's only pretend.

Demet: Yeah, so what was the vibe on set like when you were filming The Sanctuary Moon? Was it just as ridiculous and fun as the final product?

DeWanda: Yes, it absolutely is ridiculous. I mean, those steps were absurd. We were absolutely trying not to ruin takes with laughter. There's a moment — and it's super brief —where they were just like, "OK, and now there's motion, you guys can do whatever you want." And so just watching everyone — Jack McBrayer's dance and Greg's dance — it was really funny. It was a lot of fun.

Demet: Would you ever want to take on a role like Navigation Unit, but in a real earnest sci-fi series, not just as a parody?

DeWanda: Maybe... When I think of like Star Trek, like Sonequa Martin-Green's character and how she [was], it kind of evolved from it being more robotic to having a greater emotional arc. I could see something like that being possible, but it would have to kind of be very similar to Murderbot [in the sense that it] discovers human feelings because I'm a feeling person.

Demet: Yeah, did you get to read the books by the way?

DeWanda: Oh, of course!

Demet: Everyone did, I guess.

DeWanda: Yeah, of course. The fun thing about Sanctuary Moon specifically is that [Murderbot] loves the series. That's very clear in Martha Wells' novellas, but they don't describe it. So Paul and Chris really had a wide open playground to construct this sci-fi soap opera that [Murderbot] loved so much. They really could do whatever they wanted. And I think what's great about it is the show Sanctuary Moon really honors the tone, and the intention of the novellas.

Demet: I agree! So you've got two intriguing projects coming up, Killing Faith and Killer Bee, both with killing.... That's a nice streak for you. So what can you say about those roles?

DeWanda: That's really funny! Thank you for drawing that line that I did not draw for myself. That's really funny. I think something that really is a through line to my work is that there's kind of a mix of genres, and both of those are not different. Killer Bee is still in development. We're still in the script phase, and it's equal parts action comedy. And then Killing Faith was... Man, I read that script and I was like, "can we shoot this tomorrow?" It's historical, thriller, western... You know what I mean? There's also like a bit of a spiritual psychological horror there. It's a beautiful big swing. Working with Guy Pearce and Bill Pullman, I think we crafted something really special and very unexpected.

Demet: That's exciting! And beyond those, is there anything else on the horizon you're excited about? Any more killing roles?

DeWanda: That's hilarious! Nothing that's been announced. Sign of the times... Sometimes you gotta choose violence.

Demet: Yeah, it was great talking with you. Thank you so much for taking your time.

DeWanda: Thank you. This is a lot of fun.

This interview has been edited for clarity. Murderbot is now streaming on Apple TV+.

---

Murderbot. © Apple TV+

Murderbot

Premiere Date: May 16, 2025

Episode Count: 10

Executive Producer/Showrunner: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz, Alexander Skarsgård, Andrew Miano, David S. Goyer, Keith Levine

Director: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz, Toa Fraser, Aurora Guerrero, Roseanne Liang

Production: Paramount TV

Distribution: Apple TV+

Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, Tattiawna Jones, Tamara Podemski

Synopsis: Based on Martha Wells’ bestselling Hugo and Nebula Award-winning book series, “Murderbot” is a sci-fi thriller/comedy about a self-hacking security construct who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients. Murderbot must hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe.