Foundation release date, cast, synopsis, trailer and more

Apple TV+ is setting its sights high with an adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series, a complex cycle of science fiction stories published between 1942 and 1993. Yes, there’s a lot to dig through.

Happily, that’s where we come in. Is this show worth watching? Read on and decide for yourself.

Foundation season 1 plot synopsis

Let’s start with the basics: what is Foundation about? Here’s Apple TV+’s official synopsis:

"Based on the award-winning novels by Isaac Asimov, Foundation chronicles a band of exiles on their monumental journey to save humanity and rebuild civilization amid the fall of the Galactic Empire."

Drilling down a bit, Foundation begins with Hari Seldon, a math professor who develops a branch of mathematics called psychohistory. Using this method, he predicts that the mighty sci-fi civilization in which he lives is slipping toward a fall. But as math got them into this mess, so it can get them out; by following his guidance, perhaps civilization can be saved, or the effects of the fall at least minimized.

Foundation season 1 trailer

The story of Foundation is pretty cerebral. Perhaps it’ll make more sense when put into the form of a slick trailer:

As you can tell, Apple TV+ is spending all the money you’d expect for a sci-fi show made after Game of Thrones proved that a hugely expensive fantasy series could be worth the expense.

Foundation season 1 release date

Foundation will premiere on Apple TV+ on September 24, 2021. The first three episodes will all be released at once, with the rest to follow one at a time every Friday.

Foundation season 1 cast

The lead role of Hari Seldon will be played by Jared Harris, but there are a lot of characters in this story. The highest-profile actor is probably The Hobbit veteran Lee Pace, who will play Brother Day, the Emperor of the Galaxy. The cast also includes Lou Llobell (Gaal Dornick), Leah Harvey (Salvor Hardin), Laura Birn (Eto Demerzel), Cassian Bilton (Brother Dawn), Terrence Mann (Brother Dusk) and Alfred Enoch (Raych Seldon).

Will Foundation be a science fiction epic to remember, or an also-ran to be quickly forgotten? Stay tuned!

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