Apple TV+ is gearing up for the highly anticipated return of Foundation, its sprawling sci-fi epic adapted from Isaac Asimov’s legendary novels. Season 3 officially premieres on Friday, July 11, 2025, with new episodes releasing weekly through September 12, 2025. For fans of high-concept world-building, political intrigue, and philosophical sci-fi, this is shaping up to be the most ambitious chapter yet.
While the show’s past seasons have taken creative liberties with Asimov’s original material, the essence of his psychohistorical saga remains intact—exploring how empires rise, fall, and clash under the weight of fate and free will.
Setting the Stage: A 152-Year Leap
Season 3 opens 152 years after the events of Season 2, plunging viewers into a galaxy transformed by time. The Cleonic Dynasty, once thought unshakable, is showing cracks. The Foundation has risen to power, and the delicate political balance between these two great forces is unraveling.
But the true threat emerges not from within either faction—it comes from The Mule, a powerful new figure with psychic abilities that let him bend others to his will. Longtime readers of the books will recognize The Mule as one of Asimov’s most dangerous creations: a wildcard who disrupts Hari Seldon’s centuries-long plan to save civilization.
Cast: Familiar Faces & Fresh Threats
The core ensemble returns:
- Jared Harris as Hari Seldon
- Lee Pace as Brother Day
- Lou Llobell as Gaal Dornick
- Laura Birn as Demerzel
- Terrence Mann as Brother Dusk
- Cassian Bilton as Brother Dawn
Joining them is Pilou Asbæk (known for Game of Thrones) as the newly recast Mule, taking over from Mikael Persbrandt. His version of the Mule is expected to be darker, more calculating, and emotionally complex—a vital counterweight to the rigid Empire and idealistic Foundation.
New characters include:
- Cherry Jones
- Brandon P. Bell
- Synnøve Karlsen
- Cody Fern
- Tómas Lemarquis
- Alexander Siddig
- Troy Kotsur (the Oscar-winner from CODA)
This infusion of talent suggests an expansion in scope, possibly visiting new planets, factions, and timelines.
Behind the Scenes: Delays, Departures, and Determination
Production for Season 3 faced major obstacles. The 2023 Hollywood strikes halted filming just weeks after it began in Prague, and budgetary concerns at Apple reportedly caused internal delays. Showrunner David S. Goyer stepped back from day-to-day duties but remains an executive producer, while producer Bill Bost has taken on a larger role.
Filming resumed in early 2024, with post-production ramping up significantly in mid-2025 to meet the release date. According to insiders, this season has the biggest visual effects budget yet, which explains the cinematic quality teased in the trailer.
What’s Coming in Season 3?
The teaser trailer already hints at massive space battles, mind-bending psychic showdowns, and ideological collisions between religion, science, and power. Gaal’s visions of the future appear to be growing more volatile, and her distrust of the Empire—especially Brother Day—becomes central to the season’s unfolding narrative.
Expect:
- Expanded psychic lore around the Mule and Gaal
- The return of Vault Seldon as a mysterious AI-guided prophet
- The unraveling of the Empire’s genetic legacy, which may alter the fate of the Cleons permanently
- A wider galactic stage, potentially incorporating plotlines inspired by Second Foundation
Final Thoughts
Season 3 of Foundation promises to be a high-concept, high-stakes continuation of one of the boldest sci-fi adaptations of the decade. While not always faithful to Asimov’s minimalist style, the show’s visual grandeur, philosophical underpinnings, and layered performances make it one of the standout original series on Apple TV+.
If you’ve followed the journey so far, you won’t want to miss what’s next. And if you’re new? There’s still time to catch up—because The Mule is coming, and he’s about to change everything.
Key Takeaways
- Foundation Season 3 premieres on Apple TV+ July 11, 2025, with new episodes weekly.
- The first teaser trailer is out now, offering a sneak peek at what’s coming.
- Apple TV+ seems all-in on the series—Season 4 is already in the works.
Overview of Foundation (S3) on Apple TV+
Season three brings some fresh twists to the saga, including a major new villain, while pushing the adaptation of Asimov’s work into even bolder territory. The show plunges deeper into the chaos of a crumbling Galactic Empire and throws in a bunch of new characters who are already getting fans talking.
Season 3 Release Date and Streaming Availability
Foundation’s third season is set to debut Friday, July 11, 2025 on Apple TV+. As usual, after that first episode, you’ll get a new one each week—no binge-dumping here.
You’ll need an Apple TV+ subscription to watch. (No shock there.) Apple’s been doubling down on high-quality sci-fi lately, and Foundation is still a big part of their streaming lineup.
The first teaser trailer just dropped, so if you want a taste of what’s ahead—hint: the stakes look even higher—definitely check it out. The trailer teases mounting threats for the Foundation and hints at some wild directions for the plot.
Filming wrapped up earlier this year, which should give the effects team plenty of time to work their magic.
Key Plot Developments and Story Arcs
This season, “The Mule” steps in as the big bad—a warlord with powers that could seriously derail the Foundation’s plans. If you’ve read the books, you know the Mule is a game-changer, and honestly, it’s about time the show tackled this part of Asimov’s universe.
The Cleonic Dynasty’s decline and the slow-motion collapse of the Empire are still at the heart of things. Big questions about the future of humanity and whether Hari Seldon’s psychohistory can really predict it all… well, those are definitely sticking around.
Picking up from where the last two seasons left off, expect the show to:
- Widen the scope of the galaxy-spanning conflict
- Dig deeper into the relationships we’ve watched develop
- Really push the limits of psychohistory as a science
The Mule’s unpredictable abilities and outsider status throw a wrench into Seldon’s plan. It’s a twist that should keep even book fans guessing.
From what fans are saying, this season might crank up the action a bit, but it sounds like the show isn’t letting go of its big ideas or philosophical edge.
Cast, Crew, and Production of Foundation (S3)
Season 3 brings back familiar faces and some new ones, both on screen and behind the scenes. Filming took place in some pretty stunning locations, all while trying to keep that Asimov vibe alive.
Returning and New Cast Members
The ensemble cast is back: Jared Harris returns as Hari Seldon, Lee Pace brings his signature gravitas, and Lou Llobell and Leah Harvey are back as Gaal Dornick and Salvor Hardin.
This season, there are some fresh faces, too. Eight new series regulars have been announced, including Cherry Jones and Brandon P. Bell. That’s a pretty big expansion—maybe a hint that the story’s about to branch out in new ways.
You’ll also see Laura Birn, Cassian Bilton, and Terrence Mann (Brother Dusk since the show kicked off in 2021). The mix of returning actors and newcomers should shake things up a bit and hopefully keep the narrative feeling fresh.
Creative Team and Showrunners
David S. Goyer is still in charge as showrunner and executive producer. Love or hate some of the creative choices, you can’t deny he’s steered the show with a pretty steady hand.
The production team includes Bill Bost, Jane Espenson, and Leigh Dana Jackson—seasoned folks with plenty of sci-fi and drama experience.
Skydance Television is still producing, and their partnership with Apple TV+ is a big reason the show looks as slick as it does.
With the story moving past Season 2, the creative team’s decisions will matter more than ever—striking that tricky balance between staying true to Asimov and making TV that actually works in 2025.
Filming Locations and Production Insights
Once again, Prague is the backdrop for Foundation. The city’s architecture and production resources have really helped give the show its distinctive, almost otherworldly look.
Production for this season wasn’t all smooth sailing—there were some bumps along the way, apparently. Still, they got it done.
The production design team keeps outdoing themselves, especially with the imperial palace, spaceships, and all those planetary settings. The attention to detail hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Special effects are a huge part of the show, and the team’s still mixing practical effects with CGI to keep things feeling real (or at least as real as a galactic empire can get). It’s a blend that’s worked so far, so fingers crossed it keeps holding up.
Isaac Asimov’s Influence and Source Material
Season three still draws from Asimov’s Foundation series, but don’t expect a page-for-page adaptation. The show has expanded on characters and plotlines that were just footnotes in the original books.
Psychohistory—the math-driven prediction of humanity’s fate—remains the backbone of the story, with Seldon’s predictions echoing across the galaxy.
The showrunners have definitely taken some liberties, especially with characters like Gaal Dornick and Salvor Hardin. They’re pretty different from their book versions, but honestly, the changes have given the series room to breathe.
They’re still walking that fine line: keeping Asimov’s big themes about history and human nature, but not being afraid to shake things up for TV. For the most part, fans (old and new) seem to be on board.
Frequently Asked Questions
With Season 3 looming, Foundation fans have plenty of questions. Apple TV+ has dropped a few details, but there’s still a lot they’re keeping close to the vest.
When is the release date for Season 3 of Foundation on Apple TV+?
Mark your calendar: Foundation Season 3 premieres Friday, July 11, 2025, exclusively on Apple TV+. Apple confirmed the date alongside the teaser drop.
Filming wrapped earlier this year, so they’ve got time to polish the effects and make sure everything looks just right.
How many episodes are in the third season of Foundation?
Apple TV+ hasn’t officially said how many episodes are coming, but if they stick to the pattern, expect somewhere between 8 and 10.
Both previous seasons had 10 episodes, so unless they’re mixing things up, that’s probably what we’ll get.
Where can I watch the trailer for Foundation Season 3?
The first teaser trailer dropped on May 29, 2025, and you’ll find it on Apple TV+’s YouTube and their website.
A full-length trailer should land closer to the July 11 premiere—maybe sometime in June if we’re lucky.
Who are the new cast members joining Foundation Season 3?
The complete cast list isn’t public yet, but the main crew is back—Lee Pace as Brother Day, Jared Harris as Hari Seldon, and so on.
There’s a bit of anxiety among fans about cast or production shake-ups, but the word is we’ll see new characters pulled from later Foundation books.
Is Foundation available to stream on platforms other than Apple TV+?
Nope—Foundation is an Apple TV+ exclusive. If you’re hoping to catch it on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, or anywhere else, you’re out of luck.
You’ll need an Apple TV+ subscription to watch, but there is a free trial for new users. You can stream through the Apple TV app on just about any device these days.
What source material is the Apple TV+ series Foundation adapted from?
Foundation is based on Isaac Asimov’s legendary Foundation series—yeah, those classic science fiction novels. The show mainly pulls from the original Foundation trilogy, which came out between 1951 and 1953.
That said, the TV version definitely takes some big swings away from Asimov’s pages. The showrunners have really fleshed out certain characters and storylines, sometimes drifting pretty far from the books. Still, they’ve managed to hang onto the heart of it all: psychohistory, the sweeping collapse of a galactic empire, and all the big ideas Asimov threw at readers decades ago.
