An adaptation of the science fiction novel "Altered Carbon" is coming to Netflix.
The award-winning novel follows the footsteps of science fiction classics like The Matrix and Blade Runner. The visual style of the series takes inspiration from noir and cyberpunk, but it separates itself through its fresh plot.
The world of "Altered Carbon" is set in a future wherein anyone can transfer their consciousness from body to body in a method called "sleeving." This makes humans virtually immortal as they can store copies and backups of their consciousness for whatever use.
For example, murder victims who have a backup of their consciousness can just transfer that backup to another body and then testify about their own murder. People can also have their bodies cloned so that they could transfer when the original body gets older. They could theoretically stay the same age for a very long time.
However, "sleeving" is not cheap and only the truly rich can afford regular backups of their consciousness as well as a "quality" body. The process does open up some unusual financial opportunities for the less fortunate. For example, the poor can rent their bodies to make money while they have their consciousness in storage.
The story of "Altered Carbon" is centered on Takeshi Kovacs, a soldier who was trained to jump from body to body. However, during a scuffle on another planet, Kovacs got captured and got his consciousness "iced" as a result.
Kovacs' consciousness was inactive in storage for years until a wealthy man named Laurens Bancroft hired him to solve Bancroft's murder.
Bancroft was killed by his own gun, and the authorities already deemed his death a suicide. However, Bancroft — with his consciousness transferred to another body — claimed that he did not commit suicide. He even had his consciousness backed up every 48 hours, demonstrating his unwillingness to die.
The authorities gave up on the case, which led Bancroft to hire outside help. The series will follow Kovacs as he tries to solve the mystery surrounding Bancroft's death.
"Altered Carbon" will premiere on Netflix on Feb. 2, 2018.
