Apple TV+'s Murderbot Season 2 Adds 25 New Cast Members, Including Steve Buscemi, Michael Sheen and Wanda Sykes
Apple TV+ has loaded 25 new cast members into the second season of its sci-fi series Murderbot, with Steve Buscemi, Michael Sheen, Wanda Sykes, Topher Grace, Patton Oswalt, Martha Plimpton and Nicholas Braun among the names joining Alexander Skarsgård on the call sheet. Variety reported the additions on 19 August 2026.
Every newly announced performer will appear in either a recurring or guest role, meaning none have been promoted to series-regular status — the kind of distinction that shapes how much screen time and contract commitment each actor receives. The full list also includes Blair Underwood, Brendan Hunt, Bridget Everett, Britne Oldford, Damian Young, Divian Ladwa, Ella Jay Basco, Etienne Beydon, Griffin Newman, Jaedynn Latter, Jason George, Kali Reis, Katy O'Brian, Maddy Strauss, Marc Menchaca, Meredith Salenger, Nia Otchere-Sarfo and Tramell Tillman.
Several of the incoming cast are familiar faces from Apple's own roster. Hunt is best known as Coach Beard in Ted Lasso. Tillman plays the tightly wound Mr. Milchick on Severance. Both jump from one Apple TV+ title to another, which is routine in the streaming business — studios and platforms tend to repurpose talent they already know.
Skarsgård headlines the series as the titular Murderbot, a security android that would rather watch soap operas than interact with humans. The show is based on the acclaimed book series by Martha Wells, who serves as a consulting producer. Chris and Paul Weitz — Academy Award nominees whose credits include About a Boy and Mozart in the Jungle — created the adaptation and direct and executive produce through their Depth of Field banner.
Returning alongside Skarsgård for Season 2 are Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, Tattiawna Jones and Tamara Podemski. Recurring guest stars Clark Gregg, John Cho, DeWanda Wise and Jack McBrayer are also back. CBS Studios produces the series, with executive producers Andrew Miano, Dan Balgoyen and Britta Rowings for Depth of Field, plus David S. Goyer and Keith Levine for Phantom Four.
Apple TV+ announced the Season 2 renewal in July 2025 via its official press site. Wells marked the occasion on her Instagram on 6 June 2026, congratulating the cast and crew. No premiere date for the second season has been confirmed.
For fans of the books, a cast this deep suggests the adaptation is leaning into the wider ensemble Wells built across her Murderbot novellas. Twenty-five new actors is a large bench for a streaming season — and a signal that the world is expanding beyond the core crew that anchored Season 1.
