Apple TV+ Shares Trailer for Sci-Fi Series 'Foundation' Ahead of September 24 Premiere

[MacRumors]

Apple TV+ today shared the official trailer for highly-anticipated sci-fi series "Foundation" ahead of its premiere on September 24.

Based on the best-selling novels by Isaac Asimov, Apple says "Foundation" is an epic saga chronicling a band of exiles on their monumental journey to save humanity and rebuild civilization amid the fall of the Galactic Empire.

When revolutionary Dr. Hari Seldon predicts the impending fall of the Empire, he and a band of loyal followers venture to the far reaches of the galaxy to establish The Foundation in an attempt to rebuild and preserve the future of civilization. Enraged by Hari's claims, the ruling Cleons – a long line of emperor clones – fear their grasp on the galaxy may be weakening as they're forced to reckon with the potential reality of losing their legacy forever.

"Foundation" stars Emmy Award nominees Jared Harris and Lee Pace, alongside Lou Llobell, Leah Harvey, Laura Birn, Terrence Mann, Cassian Bilton, and Alfred Enoch.

The first episode of "Foundation" will be released on Apple TV+ on September 24, followed by one new episode weekly every Friday. Series writer and showrunner David Goyer hopes to tell the story over the course of 80 episodes.

Apple TV+ costs $4.99 per month, with a free seven-day trial available, or a longer trial available with the purchase of select new Apple products.

Article Link: Apple TV+ Shares Trailer for Sci-Fi Series 'Foundation' Ahead of September 24 Premiere

 

[Thakk]

Very hopeful about this series.

 

[imnotthewalrus]

Haters will hate, but TV+ is steadily adding quality programming. I introduced my sister to it and she is hooked on several programs 😀

 

[Sam Squanch]

This is the first AppleTV offering that I am pre-hyped about. Hope it delivers. So far Apple has surprised by the quality they are putting out so my expectations are pretty high.

 

[FightTheFuture]

Very hopeful about this series.

Yeah really hope Goyer doesn’t botch this one.

 

[GeneralChang]

I am so confused by that trailer. It didn't look bad, per se, but to say that was "based on the Foundation books" feels... dubious, at best. "Inspired by" is probably the right phrase there.

It looks like maybe they started from Forward the Foundation, because Seldon isn't a young man but isn't ancient either? But then mixed in the downfall of the empire from Foundation itself? But Forward heavily features the humanform robots who don't appear to be anywhere in that trailer, but I guess that doesn't mean they're not in the show...

Mainly I'm just confused. This looks really interesting, but I kinda get the feeling I'll enjoy it more if I go in not expecting Foundation.

 

[jamcgahey]

Definitely excited for more fantasy shows!!! Can't wait for season 2 of SEE!

 

[GeneralChang]

I feel like this is probably gonna be based on Foundation in the same way that I, Robot was based on I, Robot. Meaning that it wasn't, it was just distantly inspired by one of the robot stories.

 

[azentropy]

Looks interesting, but I feel it is going to be too dark for my taste.

 

[julesme]

Jared Harris is an excellent actor; I only recently discovered that he is the son of the legendary Richard Harris, who played English Bob in Unforgiven.

 

[ruka.snow]

Haters will hate, but TV+ is steadily adding quality programming. I introduced my sister to it and she is hooked on several programs 😀

Wouldn't "several program" not be all of them?

 

[Nordichund]

I am so confused by that trailer. It didn't look bad, per se, but to say that was "based on the Foundation books" feels... dubious, at best. "Inspired by" is probably the right phrase there.

It looks like maybe they started from Forward the Foundation, because Seldon isn't a young man but isn't ancient either? But then mixed in the downfall of the empire from Foundation itself? But Forward heavily features the humanform robots who don't appear to be anywhere in that trailer, but I guess that doesn't mean they're not in the show...

Mainly I'm just confused. This looks really interesting, but I kinda get the feeling I'll enjoy it more if I go in not expecting Foundation.

Hi it clearly states based on the novel. Part of the job of filmmakers is to use artistic license to bring books to the screen, also to get the funding. It certainly looks like an impressive production. If you like scifi then just enjoy it as such. I know I will.

 

[DotCom2]

I've stopped comparing movies to the books they are based on. Always disappoint. Best to just enjoy the Series for what it is IMHO. This just might be the "IT" Apple needs!

 

[jimbobb24]

I read most the books. It was a long time ago but it looks like this starts with Prelude to Foundation and Forward the Foundation and Foundation. The first two are not good. But even then this looks like a very loose interpretation as those are super boring books of small scale stuff.

Always a good reminder that empires fall and nothing lasts forever.

 

[louistrevino]

I read most the books. It was a long time ago but it looks like this starts with Prelude to Foundation and Forward the Foundation. Which are not good. But even then this looks like a very loose interpretation as those are super boring books of small scale stuff.

So they're going with a chronological order? Good to know. Looks like my homework list got bigger before starting the show.

 

[artfossil]

Jared Harris is an excellent actor; I only recently discovered that he is the son of the legendary Richard Harris, who played English Bob in Unforgiven.

I just realized that Jared Harris is appearing in this. Now I'm even more excited to see this series!

 

[dugbug]

I feel like this is probably gonna be based on Foundation in the same way that I, Robot was based on I, Robot. Meaning that it wasn't, it was just distantly inspired by one of the robot stories.

I don't think so. Its very difficult to adapt this story, and the writers are clearly trying to create some continuity for helping the story. But this is NOT the case of writing a robot movie then later stumbling over rights and shoving the title on it.

 

[Khedron]

Jared Harris 👍

David Goyer 👎

 

[casperghst42]

Haters will hate, but TV+ is steadily adding quality programming. I introduced my sister to it and she is hooked on several programs 😀

Why do you say ‘haters’, there are just people who don’t like AppleTV+ (like me) but it does not register high enough on my radar to be something I hate, and most people have it like that.

 

[dguisinger]

IGN has a trailer breakdown with the show runner....

(Spoilers)

 

[GeneralChang]

Hi it clearly states based on the novel. Part of the job of filmmakers is to use artistic license to bring books to the screen, also to get the funding. It certainly looks like an impressive production. If you like scifi then just enjoy it as such. I know I will.

Tell me you've never heard of Foundation without telling me you've never heard of Foundation.

And it didn't clearly state it was based on the novel Foundation, it clearly states "based on the groundbreaking novels" of which there are (lemme count real quick) seven. Seven novels that span something like a thousand years of galactic history. The trailer does not in any way address how they intend to adapt that, emphasizing only the presence of Hari Seldon, who lived less than 100 years if I'm remembering the first chapter of Foundation correctly.

My point, which you seem to have missed, was I intend to just go into it with no expectation based on my familiarity of the books. My reason for posting that is to help set the expectations of other folks who have read Foundation; this may feel familiar in some ways, but it does appear to be a different story entirely, based on that trailer.

As I said, I don't think that's a bad thing. Just something to be aware of.

 

[WWP99]

Yeah really hope Goyer doesn’t botch this one.

I suspect he will. His best work is when he has strong partners with a strong creative vision like Christopher Nolan. Usually his writing is meh.

 

[1applerules1]

Looks interesting, but I feel it is going to be too dark for my taste.

It’s about the fall of humanities civilization. I’d be surprised if it wasn’t dark..

 

[Johnny907]

Blech. Yup they F’d this all up. If they were going to start this far back, adapt Prelude to and Forward the Foundation entirely instead of making Hari Seldon a side character in his own story.
I’m done with hoping for movie and tv adaptations of my favorite books and comics because modern Hollywood seems to have made it its personal mission to adapt things in the most superficial way possible to the point the finished product isn’t even recognizable to fans of the source material.

 

[RalfTheDog]

I am so confused by that trailer. It didn't look bad, per se, but to say that was "based on the Foundation books" feels... dubious, at best. "Inspired by" is probably the right phrase there.

It looks like maybe they started from Forward the Foundation, because Seldon isn't a young man but isn't ancient either? But then mixed in the downfall of the empire from Foundation itself? But Forward heavily features the humanform robots who don't appear to be anywhere in that trailer, but I guess that doesn't mean they're not in the show...

Mainly I'm just confused. This looks really interesting, but I kinda get the feeling I'll enjoy it more if I go in not expecting Foundation.

Converting a book into a screen play is hard. If the movie winds up looking like the book, you have failed. Pacing for paper versus a movie versus TV is completely different. If you tried to put one percent of the exposition of a book into a movie, people would be walking out in the first 30 seconds. Some might even walk before the film started.

I feel like this is probably gonna be based on Foundation in the same way that I, Robot was based on I, Robot. Meaning that it wasn't, it was just distantly inspired by one of the robot stories.

When the I Robot came out, I did a scene by scene comparison to Asimov's books. There were elements from most of the short stories in I Robot as well as most of his other robot books. There was quite a bit from Bicentennial Man. From what I understand, they started with a not I robot script, then heavily edited it to include parts and themes of most of his stories.

Think of the movie as an Asimov montage.