Altered Carbon is looking to radically shake up its format for the second season.

The science fiction series based on author Richard K Morgan's books allows for experimentation, given its premise of a future where people's consciousness can be downloaded into new human 'sleeves'.

That premise alone, coupled with star Joel Kinnaman's recent hints that he's unlikely to return as mercenary Takeshi Kovacs, has led to showrunner Laeta Kalogridis admitting to Variety that changes are likely afoot on Altered Carbon.

Going forward, Kalogridis is considering skipping Morgan's next two novels, which continue the story of Kinnaman's hard-boiled detective Takeshi Kovacs.

"Richard has a very big-budget brain," Kalogridis told Variety. "The second book involves a worldwide war with nuclear explosions, some space travel, a giant alien dreadnought and an interstellar fight between aliens. It is prohibitively expensive in scope."

Earlier this year, Kalogridis outlined a plan for future seasons of Altered Carbon to follow an anthology format where each would be self-contained and set on a different planet.

Netflix

"My first thought is that we want to do something surprising with the second season that is not in the same place with the same people," she said. "I think the universe of these books gives you more latitude."

Netflix has yet to officially order a second season of Altered Carbon, so it seems unlikely that any new episodes of the science fiction thriller would premiere before next year.

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