Foundationthe Apple TV+ adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s novel series, first airing in 2021, with two seasons completed and a third on the way. The first season of Foundation received mixed to positive reviews, with praise for the setting and performance of Jared Harris, as protagonist Hari Seldon, and Lee Pace as the villain Brother Day, one of a series of genetic clones who rule the Galactic Empire. The first season received two Primetime Emmy nominations and two Visual Effects Society Awards, which led to a second season, which premiered in 2023.
The books on which the series is based took the form of a trilogy, published from 1951 to 1953, followed by two more books in 1982 and 1986, and prequel novels written in 1988 and 1993. The original trilogy in which Apple TV+ o program is based on was originally collected as short stories and novellas and is based on The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empirebut based on a science fiction world of warring planets and a Galactic Empire. With such an intriguing premise, it’s no surprise that Foundation became so popular.
Foundation Season 3 Recent News
Several New Cast Members Join the Season 3 Ensemble
Although production on the next season has been delayed until 2024, the latest news confirms that several new cast members have joined Foundation. Representing a wide range of familiar faces and newcomers, Cherry Jones (Succession), Pilou Asbæk (Game of Thrones), Synnøve Karlsen (Last night in Soho), Cody Fern (American horror story), Brandon P. Bell (Dear White People), Tomás Lemarquis (Blade Runner 2049), Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing (Really love) and Leo Bill (Rare Beasts) were all chosen to play regular roles. Little is known about the roles they will play, but each actor has had their specific role revealed.
New arrivals include:
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Cherry Jones as Quent Foundation Ambassador
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Pilou Asbæk as Warlord
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Synnøve Karlsen as Bayta Mallow
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Cody Fern as Toran Mallow
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Brandon P. Bell as Han Pritcher
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Tómas Lemarquis as Magnificent Giant
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Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing as music
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Leo Bill as Mayor Indbur
Foundation has been renewed for season 3
The third season is on the way
Apple TV+ officially announced the renewal of Foundation for a third season in December 2023, although there has been no mention of when it will be released. In early 2024, Foundation Season 3 has begun physical production following delays caused by the Hollywood strikes, only to once again be postponed due to budgetary concerns. Work resumed after a few weeks, but it’s unclear where the show currently stands in its production process.
Foundation Season 3 Cast
The new and returning faces of season 3
Most Foundation Season 3 cast remains unknownbut could include characters from the second season. However, there was a 138-year time jump between the first and second seasons, so there’s a chance the cast could change as well. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine star Alexander Siddig is returning to the cast of Foundation Season 3 as a new character. Siddig appeared in a Season 1 episode as Lawyer Xylas, but is being promoted to a recurring character when he debuts as Dr. Ebling Mis, a psychohistorian who studies the work of Hari Seldon.
The cast of Foundation season three has added a new face, as Oscar winner Troy Kotsur is tapped to play a major role in upcoming episodes. Perhaps best known for his award-winning performance in CODEKotsur will now play Preem Palver, a man who leads an entire planet full of psychics. The rest of the ensemble was announced in March 2024 and includes the likes of Cherry Jones as Quent Foundation Ambassador and Pilou Asbæk as Warlord, little is known about these new supporting roles.
The confirmed cast of Foundation season 3 includes:
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Actor |
Foundation Function |
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Lee Pace |
Brother’s Day |
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Jared Harris |
Hari Seldon |
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Alexandre Siddig |
Dr. |
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Troy Kotsur |
Preem Palver |
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Cherry Jones |
Quent Ambassador |
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Pilou Asbæk |
Caudillo |
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Synnøve Karlsen |
Malva Bayta |
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Cody Fern |
Toran mallow |
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Brandon P. Bell |
Han Pritcher |
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Tomás Lemarquis |
Magnificent Giant |
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Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing |
Song |
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Lion Bill |
Mayor Indbur |
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Foundation Season 3 Story
Another big time jump for season 3
The Season 2 finale ended 152 years in the future, which will connect to the story of the Mule, a mentalic originally intended to kill Salvor Hardin.
The plot of Foundation Season 3 is still unknown, although Season 2 ended with another huge time jump (which also happened between Seasons 1 and 2). The Season 2 finale ended 152 years in the future, which will connect to the story of the Mule, a mentalic originally intended to kill Salvor Hardin. There’s also the shocking fact that the main protagonist, Hari Seldon, died in season two. Whatever the details, it is clear that the third season of the series will create major conflicts for all the characters.
When he created the idea for the Apple TV+ story, David Goyer said it was “a 1,000-year-old chess game between Hari Seldon and the Empire, and every character in between is the pawn” (through THR). Based on this statement, the Foundation season 3’s story could see Hari returning after all.