Apple TV+ Orders ‘Metropolis’ Series from Sam Esmail

A new series coming to Apple TV+ will be led by Mr. Robot‘s creator Sam Esmail. Metropolis is a science fiction adventure series. The project was initially announced in 2016.

The series is inspired by Fritz Lang’s 1927 film of the same name, which itself was based on the German science fiction novel by Thea von Harbou. The silent film has become a cult classic among cinephiles in the decades since its release.

The film centers on a futuristic society where the rich enjoy a technologically advanced and visually dazzling city, and the poor work in the dark and crowded underground to keep it operational. Metropolis became a defining example of German expressionist cinematic movement. 

The original Metropolis was set in 2026, the not-so-distant future. Although no official plot summary has been released for the upcoming series, the original story combined science fiction with a flavor of horror so there is plenty for TV adaptation to explore. 

The novel Metropolis also explored additional themes of the occult, of which there were brief hints in the film. 

Esmail will not only serve as executive producer and showrunner for the series, but he will also write and direct each episode. He is also currently executive producing Gaslit on Starz and The Resort on Peacock, and writing and directing Netflix’s Leave the World Behind. 

In addition to his award-winning work on Mr. Robot, Esmail’s Prime Video series Homecoming has also earned multiple accolades including a Satellite Award for Best Television Series, drama.

Details about Metropolis‘s plot, release date, and casting for the series have not been released at this time. 

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What do you think about this series announcement? Will you be checking out Metropolis? Let us know in the comments below!

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