Confirmation, Cast, Story & Everything We Know -

Apple TV+’s adaptation of the Isaac Asimov novel series Foundation is set to return for its third season, but the production has been troubled. The first season of Foundation received mixed-to-positive reviews, with praise going to the set design and acting of both Jared Harris, as protagonist Hari Seldon, and Lee Pace as the villain Brother Day, one of a series of genetic clones that rules the Galactic Empire. Season 1 picked up two Primetime Emmy nominations and won two Visual Effects Society Awards and that led to a second season, which premiered in 2023.

The Apple TV+ original’s second season really set the tone for the sci-fi series, and it improved upon the things that initially held the adaptation back. An expanded cast and faster-paced storytelling further explored the rise and fall of the empire, and a third season was quickly ordered. Unfortunately, a series of real-life events have kept the third season sidelined for two years, though things are finally starting to move forward. While there’s no telling exactly when Foundation will return to the small screen, season 3 isn’t scrapped.

Foundation Season 3 Recent News

A New Showrunner Is Hired & Foundation Looks To The Future

Salvor Hardin, Hari Seldon, and Gaal Dornick in their ship Foundation season 2

Though season 3 has been seemingly stuck in limbo for years, the latest news confirms that Foundation season 4 has found a showrunner. Season 3’s production wrapped back in 2024, and original showrunner David S. Goyer jumped ship after an incredibly troubled few years that saw strikes and financial setbacks. Now, Fear the Walking Dead writer Ian Goldberg will assume showrunner duties for Foundation season 4 which is currently being written. The third season is planned to arrive at some point in 2025, but no date has been set yet.

Foundation Has Been Renewed For Season 3

Season 3 Is On The Way After Long Delays

Ella-Rae Smith taking off her hood in Foundation on Apple TV+.

Apple TV+ officially announced the renewal of Foundation for a third season in December 2023, but it was troubled from the start. At the beginning of 2024, Foundation season 3 began physical production after delays caused by the Hollywood strikes, only to once again be delayed by budgetary issues. Work got back underway after a few weeks, and it wouldn’t be until the summer of that year that Foundation season 3 could finally wrap. Since then, showrunner David S. Goyer has left the show, and will be replaced by Ian Goldberg for season 4.

Foundation season 2 concluded on September 15, 2023.

Apple TV+ hasn’t set a release date for Foundation season 3 yet, but it’s promised for some point in 2025. That doesn’t seem out of the question, especially with production wrapping all the way back in 2024. However, the visual effects-heavy series may have a longer than usual post-production period. This means that Foundation could arrive in late summer or fall 2025.

Foundation Season 3 Cast Details

The New & Returning Faces Of Season 3

Most of The Foundation season 3 cast remains unknown, but it could include characters from the second season. However, there was a 138-year time jump between the first and second seasons, so there is a chance that the cast could also change. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine star Alexander Siddig is returning to the cast of Foundation season 3 as a new character. Siddig appeared in one episode in season 1 as Advocate Xylas, but is being promoted to a recurring character when he debuts as Dr. Ebling Mis, a psycho-historian who studies the work of Hari Seldon.

The cast of Foundation season 3 has added a new face as Oscar winner Troy Kotsur is tapped to play a major role in the upcoming episodes. Perhaps best known for his award-winning turn in CODA, Kotsur will now play Preem Palver, a man who leads an entire planet full of psychics. The rest of the ensemble was announced in March 2024, and it includes the likes of Cherry Jones as Foundation Ambassador Quent and Pilou Asbæk as Warlord, little is known about these new supporting roles.

The confirmed cast of Foundation season 3 includes:

Actor	Foundation Role
Lee Pace	Brother Day
Jared Harris	Hari Seldon
Alexander Siddig	Dr. Ebling Mis
Troy Kotsur	Preem Palver
Cherry Jones	Ambassador Quent
Pilou Asbæk	Warlord
Synnøve Karlsen	Bayta Mallow
Cody Fern	Toran Mallow
Brandon P. Bell	Han Pritcher
Tómas Lemarquis	Magnifico Giganticus
Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing	Song
Leo Bill	Mayor Indbur

Custom Foundation Image of Lee Pace as Brother Day and Jared Harris as Hari Seldon

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Foundation Season 3 Story Details

Another Massive Time Jump For Season 3

Lee Pace in Foundation season 1 finale looking sullen

The season 2 finale ended 152 years in the future, which is going to connect to the story of the Mule, a mentalic originally destined to kill Salvor Hardin.

The plot of Foundation season 3 is still unknown, although season 2 ended with another huge time jump (which also happened between seasons 1 and 2). The season 2 finale ended 152 years in the future, which is going to connect to the story of the Mule, a mentalic originally destined to kill Salvor Hardin. There is also the shocking fact that the main protagonist, Hari Seldon, died in the second season. Whatever the details are, it is clear that the third season of the show is going to be setting up major conflicts for all the characters.

When he created the idea for the Apple TV+ story, David Goyer said this was “a 1,000-year chess game between Hari Seldon and the Empire, and all the characters in between are the pawns” (via THR). Based on that statement, the Foundation season 3 story might see Hari returning after all.