Epic sci-fi series Foundation, a wildly successful adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s award-winning stories of a galactic empire in decline, will return for a third season, Apple TV+ said Tuesday.
And that’s causing much rejoicing on our own humble planet.
Epic sci-fi series Foundation returns for season 3 on Apple TV+
Foundation‘s second season, 100% Certified Fresh on reviews site Rotten Tomatoes, became a huge hit for the streaming service. Apple TV+ even said the show has been hailed as “the gold standard for all science fiction programming.” So the service renewed the series for a third season even as it cancelled other shows, like Central Park and Swagger.
“I’m thrilled Apple has given us the opportunity to continue chronicling Asimov’s pioneering galactic saga,” said showrunner and executive producer David S. Goyer. “This time, the stakes for Foundation and Empire are even higher as the Mule takes center stage, along with fan-favorites Bayta, Toran, Ebling and Magnifico Giganticus.”
If you don’t know what he’s talking about, watch the show. Produced by Skydance Television, its stars Lee Pace (The Hobbit, Guardians of the Galaxy) as cloned galactic emperor Brother Day and Jared Harris (Chernobyl, The Expanse) as Hari Seldon, the math genius who creates Foundation to pick up the pieces after calculating empire’s inevitable fall.
Seldon’s Foundation faces series of crises
Photo: Apple TV+
Here’s how Apple TV+ describes the series and season 2, which really took off after season 1 established the show’s complex worlds:
In Foundation season two, which takes viewers more than a century after the season one finale, tension mounts throughout the galaxy. As the Cleons unravel, a vengeful queen plots to destroy Empire from within. Hari, Gaal and Salvor discover a colony of Mentalics with psionic abilities that threaten to alter psychohistory itself. The Foundation has entered its religious phase, promulgating the Church of Seldon throughout the Outer Reach and inciting the Second Crisis: war with Empire. The monumental adaptation of Foundation chronicles the stories of four crucial individuals transcending space and time as they overcome deadly crises, shifting loyalties and complicated relationships that will ultimately determine the fate of humanity.
“We have all been incredibly impressed with the ambitious, action-packed and imaginative adaptation that David and the rest of this gifted creative team and cast have brought to life with this premium sci-fi series from day one,” said Matt Cherniss, head of programming for Apple TV+.
“To watch ‘Foundation’ become such a global hit has been beyond exciting with audiences around the world continuing to be captivated week after week by this dramatic and compelling journey to save humanity,” he added. “We can’t wait for everyone to experience what is in store for characters old and new in season three.”
Incredible cast — and a podcast!
Photo: Apple TV+
Along with Pace and Harris, Foundation stars Lou Llobell, Leah Harvey, Laura Birn, Cassian Bilton, Terrence Mann, Isabella Laughland, Kulvinder Ghir, Ella-Rae Smith, Holt McCallany, Rachel House, Nimrat Kaur, Ben Daniels and Dimitri Leonidas.
Alex Graves, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Bill Bost and Robin Asimov serve as executive producers, along with Goyer.
The “Foundation: The Official Podcast,” is available now on Apple Podcasts. The companion podcast to the drama series is hosted by Jason Concepcion and Goyer, and produced by Pineapple Street Studios with Max Linsky, Jenna Weiss-Berman and Bari Finkel serving as executive producers.
Watch Foundation on Apple TV+
You can catch up with the first and second seasons of Foundation on Apple TV+. Bonus points if you go back and read the books, but it’s not a requirement for enjoying the series.
Apple TV+ is available by subscription for $6.99 with a seven-day free trial. You can also get it via any tier of the Apple One subscription bundle. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.
After first airing in November 2019, “Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 299 wins and 1,451 award nominations and counting,” the service said.
Those include multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy Ted Lasso and historic Oscar Best Picture winner CODA.
Source: Apple
