'The Institute' brings Stephen King's dark and suspenseful thriller series to life in first trailer
Stephen King has been my favorite author for as long as I can remember, so the moment I heard 'The Institute' was getting a TV adaptation, I was instantly on board. MGM Plus gave us a few first-look images last year, but now the streamer has dropped the official trailer along with a release date: July 13, 2025.
For those who aren't familiar with King's work, 'The Institute" centers around a brilliant teenager who's abducted from his home and wakes up in a mysterious facility. There, he discovers he's not alone since dozens of other kids have been taken just like him, all of them gifted with strange, supernatural powers.
It's part 'Stranger Things,' part 'Firestarter,' and classic King in its exploration of power and the abuse of authority. This is definitely one worth adding to your watchlist next month.
The trailer introduces us to Luke (Joe Freeman) as he wakes up inside the mysterious facility known as the Institute, where he discovers he's not alone — other kids with strange abilities are being held there too.
He quickly crosses paths with the cold and calculating Ms. Sigsby (Mary-Louise Parker), who tries to convince him that the purpose of the Institute is for the greater good. As Luke endures disturbing experiments, he learns the other kids are quietly planning a way out. Meanwhile, a separate storyline follows Tim (Ben Barnes), a former cop digging into something suspicious.
The rest of the trailer builds toward a powerful turning point, with Luke emerging as a leader among the kidnapped kids. He begins to unite the group, encouraging them to stand up to their captors and take control of their fate.
Along with the trailer we also got an official synopsis, which reads: 'The Institute follows the story of teen genius Luke Ellis (Freeman), who is kidnapped and awakens at The Institute, a facility full of children who all got there the same way he did and who are all possessed of unusual abilities.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
'In a nearby town, haunted former police officer Tim Jamieson (Barnes) has come looking to start a new life, but the peace and quiet won't last, as his story and Luke's are destined to collide.'
The series is helmed by director and executive producer Jack Bender, known for his work on 'Lost' and 'From' (one of my favorite shows ever), with the script penned by Benjamin Cavell, who previously wrote for 'Justified' and 'The Stand.' Both bring plenty of Stephen King experience to the table, having tackled his haunting stories before.
Stephen King is on board as an executive producer, joining forces with Bender, Cavell, Gary Barber, Sam Sheridan, and Ed Redlich to bring the series to life. With King involved behind the scenes, fans can expect the show to hold true to the novel's intense, unsettling tone.
Joining Freeman, Barnes, and Parker are joined by other strong talents including Simone Miller as Kalisha, Fionn Laird as Nick, Viggo Hanvelt as Avery, Arlen So as George, Julian Richings as Stackhouse, Robert Joy as Hendricks, and Hannah Galway as Wendy.
In the TV adaptation, Luke's age has been increased by a few years compared to the original novel, and the same change applies to several other characters as well. During the panel at Content London (h/t Variety), Bender said: 'We were very aware of not wanting this to be as awful as it can be, what these kids go through. We didn't want it to be a sadistic experience. There's a fine line and, god knows, as storytellers we didn't want to go there.'
MGM Plus has been drawing plenty of attention with its recent horror-thriller lineup, especially with hits like 'From,' which quickly became one of their standout series. They're also familiar territory when it comes to Stephen King adaptations, having worked on a limited series based on 'Jerusalem's Lot,' a prequel story to King's 'Salem's Lot.'
The streaming service plans to release new episodes of 'The Institute' on a weekly basis to build anticipation and keep viewers coming back regularly. There will be eight episodes in total to enjoy.
No matter if you've been reading King for decades or are just stepping into his universe for the first time, 'The Institute' is shaping up to be one of the most unmissable TV releases of summer 2025.
'The Institute' premieres with two episodes on July 13, 9pm ET/PT on MGM Plus.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Millie Bobby Brown Shows Off Her Tan Lines in an Itty Bitty String Bikini
Millie Bobby Brown paired her newly-dyed brunette hair with the tiniest string bikini on Friday, June 27. The Stranger Things star showed off her visible tan lines in the barely-there cottagecore style. She also gave fans a glimpse of her behind-the-scenes filming of Enola Holmes Bobby Brown made a stylish case for cottagecore swimwear as she enjoyed a beach day on Friday, June 27. In addition to giving fans a glimpse at her newly-dyed brunette hair—a major departure from the bleach-blonde style she's been sporting in recent months—the Stranger Things actress stripped down to the tiniest string bikini in a nostalgic print. Brown served up vacation style inspo in the golden hour bikini shoot, which showed her modeling a barely-there two-piece paisley swimsuit by the water. Posing with her hands on her forehead, the sunkissed star ensured her bikini body and visible tan lines were front and center in a blue floral patterned suit with white lace trimming her triangle bikini cups and the low-cut waistband of her tiny string bikini bottoms. In addition to embroidered crochet detailing on her barely-there bikini top, Brown's swimsuit also featured green beading in the front paired with a large vintage-inspired bronze pendant dangling down her toned midriff. The Electric State actress added some extra shine for her beachside photoshoot with a silver pearl choker, gold hoop earrings, and a pair of tortoiseshell aviator sunglasses. Brown kept her beauty simple, showing off a bronzed complexion, flushed cheeks, and a rosy pout. Fresh off her recent return to her natural brown hair, the British star pulled her dark locks back into a sleek wet bun. It was a contrasting style to a Bridgerton-coded updo she shared in a separate Instagram post on Friday. Brown paired a green sleeveless crop top covered in tiny purple flowers with a matching low-rise skirt that put her stomach on full display in a carousel, which she mysteriously captioned, 'Case closed.' Alongside photos that appeared to be from the filming of her upcoming Netflix film Enola Holmes 3, Brown showed off a middle-parted curly bun with two braids creating a headband along her hairline. Read the original article on InStyle
Tom's Guide
16 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
5 best new movies to stream this weekend on Netflix, Prime Video, Peacock and more (June 28-29)
We're in the thick of summer now, and our favorite way to beat the heat is watching the latest movies across the best streaming services. Whether you're looking for an explosive action thriller or a haunting thriller, there's something for everyone's tastes on this list. Leading the pack this week is 'A Working Man" on MGM Plus, a Jason Statham-led action movie packed with all the familiar thrills you'd expect. For a more offbeat thriller, the Australian indie hit "In Vitro" just landed on paid video-on-demand platforms. Netflix also has a new documentary "Trainwreck: Poop Cruise," about a cruise from hell for those morbidly curious. Meanwhile, horror fans are eating good this week between "Nosferatu" arriving on Prime Video and the meditative horror movie "The Woman in the Yard" on Peacock. If you're looking to skip the search and find your next movie night pick, you're in the right spot. Here's our guide on the best new movies to watch this weekend. With a title like "Poop Cruise," Netflix's latest installment in its "Trainwreck" docuseries is bound to turn some heads (it certainly caught my attention when the trailer popped up on my Netflix account). What began as a four-day cruise from Texas to Mexico quickly spiraled into chaos for the more than 4,000 passengers and crew aboard when a fire crippled the ship's electrical systems. It left the ship adrift with no engine power, refrigeration, AC, or functioning toilets (in case you couldn't already guess from the voyage's infamous nickname). Over a harrowing four days stranded at sea, the passengers endured raw sewage seeping into the hallways and dripping down the walls, shortages of food and water, and tensions that erupted into full-blown brawls. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Watch it now on Netflix "A Working Man" just might be Jason Statham's Statham-iest film to date. It may lack some of the freshness of his previous outing with director David Ayer, last year's surprisingly charming "The Beekeeper," but fans of Statham's gritty, no-nonsense action hero persona will find much to enjoy. "A Working Man" sticks to a blueprint that fans of the genre will undoubtedly recognize. Statham stars as Levon Cade, a retired marine turned construction foreman. When a human trafficking ring kidnaps his boss's daughter (Arianna Rivas), he's forced to dust off his deadly set of skills for one last mission. His search pulls him into a dark criminal conspiracy, setting off a chain of events that puts his hard-earned new life at risk. Audiences have been far more enthusiastic about "A Working Man" than critics, likely because there's nothing quite like seeing Statham dismantle a Russian mafia militia with just his fists (oh, and a decorative ox skull he yanked off the wall). Watch it now on MGM Plus Director Jaume Collet-Serra, known for "The Shallows" and "House of Wax," brings his signature style of horror to "The Woman in the Yard" for a terrifying spin on the Boomer mantra, "Get off my lawn!" "Till" actress Danielle Deadwyler stars as Ramona, a mother of two who is grappling with grief and guilt after the sudden death of her husband. Since she lives in an isolated, half-renovated farmhouse, she's understandably alarmed when a mute woman covered head to toe in black appears in her yard. Especially when the stranger breaks her silence to deliver a chilling message: "Today's the day." This time around, the terror has a more psychological bent than Collet-Serra's previous films, delivering a slower, moodier descent into unraveling sanity. Each scare skillfully builds the film's central mystery for a payoff that feels as genuinely satisfying as it is haunting. Watch it now on Peacock Robert Eggers once again cements his status as a modern master of horror with "Nosferatu," a haunting reimagining of the 1922 silent classic inspired by Bram Stoker's "Dracula." While the storyline closely mirrors the original, Eggers injects his signature atmospheric dread and a streak of dark humor for a chilling experience that feels both timeless and uniquely his own. Set in the late 1830s, the film follows newlyweds Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult) and Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp) as they become wrapped up in a slow-burning nightmare. When Thomas travels to the foreboding estate of Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård) in Transylvania for a business deal, eerie visions that have haunted Ellen since childhood begin to resurface. Though the villagers warn Thomas to keep his distance, he forges onward and discovers that Orlok is no mere recluse but rather something far more horrifying: a terrifying monster with its sights on Ellen's soul. Watch it now on Prime Video This Australian indie sci-fi thriller earned a rare 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, with many highlighting how it winds up the tension with its unsettling score and precisely executed jolts. Set in a not-so-distant future ravaged by ecological collapse, "In Vitro" follows Layla (Talia Zucker) and her husband Jack (Ashley Zuckerman), who struggle to make a living on their remote cattle farm. To pull their family back from the brink of financial ruin, Jack turns to experimental animal breeding technology. Things grow tense between them as strange and unsettling events begin to haunt their property. But Layla only discovers the full extent of what horrors Jack has unleashed when a storm knocks out their power and releases his experiments. Buy or rent on Amazon or Apple
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Uma Thurman Says She's in 'Awe' as She Watches Her Kids Follow in Her Acting Footsteps: 'I Admire Them'
Uma Thurman is always rooting for her children The Kill Bill star shares daughter Maya Hawke, 26, and son Levon Hawke, 23, with her ex-husband Ethan Hawke, as well as 12-year-old daughter Luna Thurman-Busson with former-fiancé Arpad Busson Her two older children have followed in her acting footsteps, most recently doing off-Broadway showsUma Thurman being proud of her children would be an understatement. During the Los Angeles premiere of The Old Guard 2 on Wednesday, June 25, the 55-year-old actress spoke to Extra while on the red carpet, where she raved about her older kids' careers. After being asked about her return to action films after more than two decades, the Kill Bill alum discussed her daughter Maya Hawke, 26, and son Levon Hawke, 23, following in her footsteps. 'I choked on it a little bit at first, with the first one being so young, but I think they're amazing,' Thurman said. 'I mean, with talent like that, you can't put it in a box. So I admire them, and I think that they're just superior artists,' Thurman continued. 'All I can do is stand back in awe.' Thurman shares Maya and Levon with her ex-husband Ethan Hawke, whom she was married to from 1998 to 2005. The Pulp Fiction star is also mom to daughter Luna Thurman-Busson, whom she welcomed in 2012 with former-fiancé Arpad Busson. Maya has made a name for herself since starring as Robin Buckley in Netflix's hit series Stranger Things beginning in 2019. She also appeared in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and, in addition to other acting and modeling gigs, has released music and toured. Meanwhile, Levon was cast in the 2023 Apple TV+ series, The Crowded Room, alongside Tom Holland and Emmy Rossum. On Monday, June 23, Thurman appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers, where she also spoke about her children when they were mentioned by the show host, 51. 'I was telling you backstage, I had a nice thing happen walking down the streets of New York. I ran into your daughter Maya in the street," Meyers told his guest. "And you have two children now who are just incredibly accomplished performers.' 'Well, I have three who are very accomplished,' she replied. 'Two who work for it.' 'I very much apologize to the one who's not putting the work in,' Meyers joked of Thurman's 12-year-old. 'She'll get there.' She then shared her feelings on Maya and Levon making their off-Broadway debut. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'As a mother, you know, honestly, I'm so proud of them and they're so together, and honestly, seeing your kids kind of surpass you is awesome,' she said. Maya is currently starring in Eurydice, while Levon's role in Ghosts at the Lincoln Center Theatre wrapped this past April. Thurman previously told PEOPLE, "I'm madly in love with all of my children and very proud of them. I think they conduct themselves with a lot of dignity and respect for others. It's all a parent could dream of." Read the original article on People
