About a week ago I posted a rumor that Robert Pattinson could potentially play Case in Apple TV+'s Neuromancer series. That series is now officially announced at Apple TV+ but they only named the showrunners (no cast). I assume this means Pattinson declined the role, otherwise they would’ve mentioned him. Or maybe they’re still in talks, who knows. I just think if Pattinson was close to signing on they would’ve waited to make this announcement so they could include his name.

Also, I absolutely hate linking to twitter, but William Gibson discussed his involvement in the series here. I can’t read any of the replies, but someone posted it elsewhere so I assume this is accurate:

“I’m not going to be answering many questions here, about Apple TV’s adaptation of Neuromancer. I’ll have to be answering too many elsewhere, and doing my part on the production. So I thought I’d try to describe that, my part.”

“I answer showrunner’s and director’s questions about the source material. I read drafts and make suggestions. And that’s it, really, though my previous experience has been that that winds up being quite a lot of work in itself.”

"I don’t have veto power. The showrunner and director do, because the adaptation’s their creation, not mine. A novel is a solitary creation. An adaptation is a fundamentally collaborative creation, so first of all isn’t going to “be the book”.

“Particularly not the one you saw behind your forehead when you read the book, because that one is yours alone. So for now let’s leave it at that.”

  • @Blue_Morpho
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    9 months ago

    I’m expecting this to get the Foundation treatment by Apple. They will hire some writers who don’t understand the book so write their own story and slap “Neuromancer” on it for marketing.

    It will be Game of Thrones of the Tessier-Ashpoole dynasty with a side story about a street punk named Case who solves problems with gun fights.

    • Troy
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      49 months ago

      Fair enough. But they will at least need to update or change parts of it, unless they go retrofuturistic with the aesthetics. You can’t tell the same story as written while you have smartphones in the world.