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Foundation

Foundation

Now Showing

Foundation

"No future lasts forever."

7.7

Yr 2021

Status Returning Series

Sci-Fi & Fantasy Drama

Series Brief

Overview

Follow a band of exiles on their monumental journey to save humanity and rebuild civilization amid the fall of the Galactic Empire.

Why fans love it

Foundation balances the collapse of a sprawling Galactic Empire with a keen sense of irony. It treats the end of civilization as both a slow, mechanical process and a series of intimate personal failures. The script sidesteps typical space opera adrenaline for a more dignified rhythm, favoring long, introspective silences over constant action.

Jared Harris anchors this gravity with a performance that feels weary and sharp. The series retains a biting, anxious quality throughout, refusing to treat the salvation of humanity as a clean or simple heroic arc. It remains a curious puzzle of a show, layering tragic outcomes underneath a glossy, high-concept aesthetic. This approach makes for a viewing experience that feels heavy with consequence rather than just busy with spectacle.

Featured Players

Cast 75

Reece Shearsmith

as Jerril

3 episodes

as Abbas

4 episodes

Pilou Asbæk

as The Mule

10 episodes

Tómas Lemarquis

as Magnifico Giganticus

7 episodes

Jared Harris

as Hari Seldon

30 episodes

Lee Pace

as Brother Day

30 episodes

Lou Llobell

as Gaal Dornick

30 episodes

Leah Harvey

as Salvor Hardin

20 episodes

Laura Birn

as Demerzel

30 episodes

as Brother Dawn

30 episodes

as Brother Dusk

30 episodes

Daniel MacPherson

as Hugo Crast

10 episodes

Vanessa Ifediora

as Imperial Herald

3 episodes

Alfred Enoch

as Raych Foss

7 episodes

as Jacenta

4 episodes

Elliot Cowan

as Lewis Pirenne

8 episodes

as Keir

4 episodes

Chloe Lea

as Gia

6 episodes

Joni Morris

as Laylo

3 episodes

Mido Hamada

as Shadow Master Obrecht

3 episodes

Show all 75 cast

Sasha Behar

as Mari

9 episodes

as Rowan

5 episodes

Amy Tyger

as Azura

5 episodes

as Freestone

4 episodes

Kubbra Sait

as Phara

7 episodes

Julia Farino

as Zephyr Gilat

3 episodes

T'Nia Miller

as Zephyr Halima

3 episodes

as Queen Sareth I of Cloud Dominion

8 episodes

Sandra Yi Sencindiver

as Enjoiner Rue Corintha

9 episodes

Oliver Chris

as Director Sef Sermak

7 episodes

Rowena King

as Kalle

5 episodes

Eva Bradley-Williams

as Varia

5 episodes

Emily Stott

as Oreen

4 episodes

as Poly

7 episodes

Wade Briggs

as Brigadier Manlio

6 episodes

Anthony Barclay

as Councilor Sutt

6 episodes

Haqi Ali

as Handman Hahn

8 episodes

Alexander Siddig

as Dr. Ebling Mis

7 episodes

Isabella Laughland

as Novice Claric Brother Constant

8 episodes

Ryan Ali

as The Beggar Computer (voice)

4 episodes

as High Claric Brother Poly Verisof

8 episodes

Mikael Persbrandt

as The Mule

4 episodes

Luis Torrecilla

as Pater

5 episodes

Ben Daniels

as Bel Riose

6 episodes

Dimitri Leonidas

as Hober Mallow

7 episodes

as Glawen Curr

6 episodes

Judi Shekoni

as She-Bends-Light

5 episodes

as Air Officer Kress

4 episodes

Rachel House

as Tellem Bond

5 episodes

Michael Akinsulire

as Loron

4 episodes

Kit Rakusen

as Josiah

6 episodes

Sandra Guldberg Kampp

as Thalis

6 episodes

Isabel Adomakoh-Young

as Timandra

4 episodes

Mahmoud Aldachan

as Ferzan

4 episodes

Ian Dillon

as Terminite Council Member (uncredited)

6 episodes

Cherry Jones

as Ambassador Quent

7 episodes

as Han Pritcher

9 episodes

Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing

as Song

7 episodes

as Zephyr Vorellis

4 episodes

Leo Bill

as Mayor Indbur

5 episodes

Iðunn Ösp Hlynsdóttir

as Sephone

6 episodes

Miltos Yerolemou

as Presider Kinn

4 episodes

Adam Basil

as Hekkus

6 episodes

Cody Fern

as Toran Mallow

9 episodes

as Vandagh

6 episodes

Synnøve Karlsen

as Bayta Mallow

10 episodes

as Warden Greer

6 episodes

Troy Kotsur

as Preem Palver

5 episodes

as Mavon

4 episodes

Isla Gie

as Skirlet

6 episodes

as Randu Mallow

4 episodes

as Zera

4 episodes

Laura Berlin

as Oceanglass-49

5 episodes

as Sweetheart (voice)

5 episodes

Ahir Shah

as Zagreus

6 episodes

Production Board

Crew

Costume Design

Shauna Callanan

Assistant Director Trainee

Barry Costello

Producer

David Kob

Assistant Art Director

Barbara Agbaje Karl Crosby

Co-Executive Producer

Russell Rothberg Leigh Dana Jackson Jane Espenson

Casting

Lucinda Syson Natasha Vincent

Consulting Producer

Chad McQuay

Director

Andrew Bernstein Tim Southam Jennifer Phang Rupert Sanders

Production Design

Rory Cheyne

Assistant Editor

Joey Reinisch

Digital Effects Supervisor

Bastian Wartenberg

Prosthetics Sculptor

Duncan Jarman

Art Direction

Kevin C. Lang

Set Production Assistant

Matej Kricner

Co-Producer

Adam C. Banks Tara Doolan

Props

Sean Lyons

Stunts

Yusuf Chaudhri JJ Battell

Editor

Skip Macdonald

Military Consultant

Paul Biddiss

Director of Photography

Steve Annis

Camera Trainee

Andri Fannar Kjartansson

Signal Match

Cast Similarity

The Midwich Cuckoos

3 shared cast members

Shared Synnøve Karlsen, Emily Stott, Kit Rakusen

Twilight of the Gods

2 shared cast members

Shared Tómas Lemarquis, Pilou Asbæk

Becoming Elizabeth

2 shared cast members

Shared Leo Bill, Miltos Yerolemou

2 shared cast members

Shared Ben Daniels, Jared Harris

Moonflower Murders

2 shared cast members

Shared Ian Dillon, Wade Briggs

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

2 shared cast members

Shared Chloe Lea, Wade Briggs

1 shared cast member

Shared Jared Harris

1 shared cast member

Shared Krista Kosonen

Testament: The Story of Moses

1 shared cast member

Shared Clarke Peters

Five Days at Memorial

1 shared cast member

Shared Cherry Jones

Signal Match

Crew Similarity

5 shared crew members

Shared Lucinda Syson, Andrew Bernstein, Natasha Vincent +2 more

Roles: Casting, Director, Executive Producer +2 more

4 shared crew members

Shared Barbara Agbaje, Karl Crosby, David S. Goyer +1 more

Roles: Art Direction, Associate Producer, Executive Producer

3 shared crew members

Shared Dana Goldberg, Bill Bost, David Ellison

Roles: Executive Producer

3 shared crew members

Shared JJ Battell, Stephen Hall, Macdara Kelleher

Roles: Epk Camera Operator, Producer, Stunts

The Big Door Prize

3 shared crew members

Shared Dana Goldberg, Bill Bost, David Ellison

Roles: Executive Producer

2 shared crew members

Shared Bastian Wartenberg, David S. Goyer

Roles: CG Supervisor, Creator

Marvel's Daredevil

2 shared crew members

Shared David Kob, Adam C. Banks

Roles: Post-Production Manager, Script Coordinator

2 shared crew members

Shared Dana Goldberg, David Ellison

Roles: Executive Producer

2 shared crew members

Shared Andrew Bernstein, Alex Graves

Roles: Director

Terminator Zero

2 shared crew members

Shared Dana Goldberg, David Ellison

Roles: Executive Producer

Topic Overlay

Topic Keyword Similarity

Designated Survivor

36 shared keywords

Topics dignified, introspective, biting +33 more

35 shared keywords

Topics witty, introspective, hopeful +32 more

Starbound Souls

14 shared keywords

Topics witty, biting, anxious +11 more

13 shared keywords

Topics hopeful, adoring, affectation +10 more

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

13 shared keywords

Topics cautionary, adoring, compassionate +10 more

Beyond the Horizon

12 shared keywords

Topics dignified, anxious, adoring +9 more

11 shared keywords

Topics dignified, introspective, compassionate +8 more

11 shared keywords

Topics introspective, ominous, philosophical +8 more

11 shared keywords

Topics dignified, ominous, hopeful +8 more

10 shared keywords

Topics anxious, tragic, compassionate +7 more

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

prophecy based on novel or book affectation grave empire distant future biting space opera questioning speculative curious meditative mysterious shocking candid thoughtful philosophical human clone reflective lyrical complex wonder anxious loving cautionary introspective serene inspirational grand intimate provocative direct didactic dramatic suspenseful critical tense sentimental witty intense bitter admiring adoring appreciative assertive audacious awestruck bold commanding compassionate defiant dignified earnest empathetic enchant exhilarated foreboding hopeful instructive ominous powerful scathing sincere sympathetic tragic urgent vibrant

Next Signal

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Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Apple TV

US • CA • UK

Apple TV Amazon Channel

US • UK • CA

Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired: September 23, 2021
Status: Returning Series
Origin: US
TMDB Votes: 1,691