Development On June 27, 2017, it was reported that
Skydance Television was developing a television series adaptation of
Isaac Asimov's science fiction book series
Foundation with
David S. Goyer and
Josh Friedman serving as the production's writers. At the time of the report, the production company was in the midst of closing a deal with Asimov's estate for the rights to the book series. On April 10, 2018,
Apple, through their Worldwide Video Unit, bought the series and put it into development with the potential for a straight-to-series order. Goyer and Friedman were also expected to serve as executive producers and showrunners. Other executive producers included David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Marcy Ross. On August 23, 2018, Apple ordered the production of a first season consisting of ten episodes, with Asimov's daughter, Robyn Asimov, serving as an
executive producer. On April 18, 2019, Josh Friedman left as co-writer and co-showrunner. Troy Studios in Limerick, Ireland, hosted production of the show. According to
Screen Ireland the series would create more than 500 production jobs at the studio. Asimov's daughter, Robyn Asimov, provides familial assistance to the series. Goyer pitched the series in one sentence: "It's a 1,000-year chess game between Hari Seldon and the Empire, and all the characters in between are the pawns, but some of the pawns over the course of this saga end up becoming kings and queens." In October 2021, Apple TV+ renewed the series for a second season In December 2023, the series was renewed for a third season, In September 2025, Apple TV+ renewed the series for a fourth season with
Ian B. Goldberg and David Kob replacing Goyer as showrunners, though Goyer is still involved as part of the executive production team.
Writing In January 2021, Goyer stated "with
Foundation we can tell the story, hopefully, over the course of eighty episodes; eighty hours, as opposed to trying to condense it all into two or three hours for a single film". Goyer said that this format might not succeed, but if it did it would be unique.
Lou Llobell stars as
Gaal Dornick, a mathematical genius from a rural, repressed aquatic planet.
Leah Harvey plays
Salvor Hardin, the protective and intuitive warden of a remote outer planet.
Laura Birn stars as
Demerzel, the enigmatic
gynoid aide to the Emperor of the Galaxy.
Terrence Mann stars as
Brother Dusk, the eldest living member of the ruling family.
Cassian Bilton plays
Brother Dawn, the youngest living member of the ruling family and next in line to be Brother Day. New characters Brother Day, Brother Dusk, and Brother Dawn are original characters created for the series. Each is a different-aged
clone in the "genetic dynasty" of the Emperor Cleon I: the youngest clone is called Dawn, the middle clone and reigning emperor is called Day, and the emperor emeritus is called Dusk. In a June 2021 trailer,
Alfred Enoch joined the cast. For season two,
Isabella Laughland was cast as
Brother Constant, along with
Sandra Yi Sencindiver,
Ella-Rae Smith,
Dimitri Leonidas,
Ben Daniels,
Holt McCallany,
Mikael Persbrandt,
Rachel House, and
Nimrat Kaur. For season three,
Alexander Siddig and
Troy Kotsur were cast in the roles of Dr.
Ebling Mis, a self-taught psychohistorian, and
Preem Palver, the leader of a planet of psychics, respectively. Siddig previously appeared in a season one guest role as a different character. Additional season three series regulars include
Pilou Asbæk (a recast of
The Mule),
Cherry Jones,
Synnøve Karlsen,
Cody Fern,
Brandon P. Bell,
Tómas Lemarquis, Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing and
Leo Bill.
Filming On March 12, 2020, Apple suspended production of the show in Ireland due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. On October 6, filming was resumed. On January 27, 2021, after quarantining and receiving special waivers from the government of
Malta, cast and crew members were allowed to start filming on the island. Goyer noted some filming was always planned to be conducted in Malta, however, due to new restrictions imposed in London, they moved significant portions of production to Malta. Filming in
Tuineje,
Fuerteventura (Canary Islands) was already wrapped by March 2021. The production team worked in volcanic landscapes such as the Caldera de los Arrabales and Granja de Pozo Negro. The production team then moved to
Tenerife, where filming resumed on March 22, 2021. Filming concluded in April 2021 after 19 months. The second season began filming in
Prague,
Czech Republic, on April 11, 2022. The third season began filming in late May 2023 in Prague. Filming was halted on July 14, 2023, due to the
2023 Hollywood labor disputes. Production on the third season was expected to resume in Prague in February 2024, but was disbanded once again due to budgetary issues. Production resumed in March 2024 in Prague and
Poland. == Reception ==