Rami Malek, Christian Slater, Sam Esmail discuss Mr. Robot at SXSW 2016

“The cardinal rule in screenwriting [is] ‘never write VO, it’s lazy’ and I think that’s the dumbest, do not listen to that advice … it’s how you use it and how you make it into its own thing and its own character.” - Series creator Sam Esmail on Elliot’s relationship with the viewer

Mr. Robot stars, Rami Malek and Christian Slater, along with series creator Sam Esmail, returned to SXSW this past March to discuss the realistic depiction of tech culture in the hit series, and why accuracy and authenticity matter when it comes to attracting and maintaining contemporary audiences.

After the panel, moderated by Entertainment Weekly’s Kevin P. Sullivan, the floor was opened for a Q&A with the audience. Mr. Robot made its world premiere at the 2015 SXSW Film Festival and went on to win the 2015 Episodic Audience Award. Season 2 of Mr. Robot will premiere this summer.

Watch the video above to hear the full session and explore more 2016 video content, including panels, Keynotes, and film screening Q&As on our YouTube channel.

Photo by Heather Kennedy/Getty Images for SXSW