Apple TV+'s next flagship series, Foundation, looks to emulate the size and success of Game of Thrones, but in space.

The new TV series is based on the 1951 novel of the same name, which spawned four sequels and two prequels and is written by famed sci-fi author Isaac Asimov. In the book series, Foundation is set in the future, when the world we know now is a memory of the past, as humans have since colonised the galaxy. The first novel introduces Hari Seldon, a brilliant visionary and psychohistorian who uses mathematics and probability to predict the future.

Here is everything you need to know about Foundation, including how to watch it on Apple TV+, and when it is out.

Foundation Apple TV+ show: Release date, trailers, cast, and how to watch photo 3
Apple

Foundation show: Cast and crew

Let's start out with the basics: Cast and crew. The Foundation Apple TV+ series is being helmed by David S Goyer. It's also written by Goyer and Josh Friedman. Goyer is best known for writing all three films in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy. Meanwhile, Friedman has written 2005’s War of the Worlds and 2019’s Terminator: Dark Fate, and he has a host of credits on TV shows. So, these two are quite the pair to be working on Asimov's sci-fi epic.

The cast is led by Jared Harris (Mad Men and Chernobyl) as Hari Seldon and Lee Pace (Captain Marvel and Halt and Catch Fire) as Brother Day.

Here's a breakdown of all the known casting information to date:

  • Jared Harris - Hari Seldon
  • Lee Pace - Brother Day
  • Lou Llolbell - Gaal Dornick
  • Leah Harvey - Salvor Hardin
  • Laura Birn - Demerzel
  • Cassian Bilton - Brother Dawn
  • Terrence Mann - Brother Dusk
  • Teyarnie Galea - Young Gaal Dornick
  • Daniel MacPherson - Hugo
  • T'Nia Miller - Halima
  • Pravesh Rana - Rowan
  • Kubbra Sait - Phara
  • Nikhil Parmar - Freestone
  • Mido Hamada - Shadow Master Obrecht
  • Buddy Skelton - Kier
  • Any Tyger - Azura
  • Alfred Enoch - Raych Seldon
Foundation Apple TV+ show: Release date, trailers, cast, and how to watch photo 1
Apple

Foundation show: Plot and synopsis

Now that you know who is playing who, let's get into what is expected from the show. Those who have read Asimov's novel, Foundation, are probably wondering how on Earth it can work as a TV show, as decades happen between each chapter of the novel.

Foundation (the novel) opens with Hari Seldon, who created a new branch of science known as Psychohistory, which combines all the data of thousands of years of human history into a formula that can predict large-scale human events.

Using this formula, Seldon discovers that the Galactic Empire, which has reigned for 12,000 years, will soon collapse and lead to 30,000 years of essentially lawless anarchy throughout the galaxy. What a prediction, right?

Seldon's plan is to create the foundation for a second empire that will cut that dark era down to a thousand years. That is essentially the first chapter of the first book of the Foundation series.

The second chapter picks up 50 years later, well after Seldon's death. Each chapter usually includes a similar time jump with new characters being featured in each. It'll be interesting to see if each season of Foundation follows a chapter in the novel.

Foundation show: Trailers

This is the first trailer that Apple released for its new show:

And here is the second trailer for the show:

Foundation show: Release date

Excited to watch Foundation on Apple TV+? Us, too. Luckily we don't have to wait any longer. It premieres on 24 September 2021.

Apple typically releases the first three episodes of new shows at once, followed by one episode per week. That means new episodes should land every Friday.

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Apple

Foundation show: How to watch

Apple TV+ subscribers can stream the new series from the Apple TV app. A monthly subscription is $4.99 per month in the US and £4.99 in the UK.

You can also get access to Apple TV+ as part of an Apple One subscription. Check out our guides on the Apple TV app, Apple TV+, and Apple One for more details: