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UPI
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
Lee Pace: Brother Day disillusioned with the Empire in 'Foundation' S3
1 of 4 | Lee Pace stars in "Foundaton." New episodes air Fridays. Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ NEW YORK, July 18 (UPI) -- The Hobbit and Guardians of the Galaxy actor Lee Pace says Season 3 of Foundation has a different feel than the previous two chapters of the critically acclaimed sci-fi drama. New episodes of the adaptation of Isaac Asimov's book series air Fridays on Apple TV+. The show follows a group of scientists who try to save humanity by rebuilding civilization on a remote planet amid the fall of the Galactic Empire, which is ruled by a genetic dynasty of three clones -- Pace's Brother Day, Terrence Mann's Brother Dusk and Cassian Milton's Brother Dawn. "He doesn't want any relationship with any of them. He's very disillusioned with the entire idea of Empire, that he's an emperor and he wants to get as far away from the jerks in the palace as he possibly can," Pace, 46, told UPI about Brother Day in a recent Zoom interview. "He wants to hang out in the garden and get stoned and eat and just be fat and happy," Pace explained. Answer the call. A new episode of #Foundation is now streaming. Apple TV (@AppleTV) July 18, 2025 "He doesn't want to sit there and play politics on the throne anymore and he hates the people who think that they can. He's not someone who thinks that it's worth trying to control anything. You can't do it. Not even the robot can do it. ... Might as well just relax. If things are going to fall apart, they're going to fall apart. There's no saving them." The Crow alum Laura Birn, 44, plays Demerzel, a humanoid robot and the trio's most trusted adviser. "I'm excited to explore the relationship between Demerzel and Day. I just find it endlessly interesting and surprising and disturbing this year," Birn said. "It's the part that I always wait most for when I get the new scripts, like, 'What's happening between them and this weird little dysfunctional family?'" Pace agreed. "i always find that really interesting and we have a great time working together, too, so it's such a fun dynamic to see: 'Well, what hands do we have this season? How is this game going to play out?'" he said. Season 3 sees the introduction of The Mule (Pilou Asbæk), a villain who uses mind control on his foes, but Pace said Brother Day doesn't even really know he exists. "He's too far away and insignificant," the actor added. "The Mule is the big instigator of the season and a very huge disruptor, but one of the things that's so interesting to me about Foundation is that it's not a story about battles. You might think that's the case from the beginning of this season where you've got a great, big, powerful Foundation and you've got a great, big, powerful Empire. You think they're going to clash in some way." But that's not actually where the story goes, Pace emphasized. "It's about the center falling out and then this crumbling over here and then that group kind of having a different opinion and eating each other," he said. "It's like the disintegration from lots of places. That's what chaos does to order," Pace added. "That's what The Mule is. He is the invention of chaos." Demerzel -- on the other hand -- thrives on mayhem. "The chaos and the destruction that he brings is kind of like another crisis to attack, to solve, but, at the same time, there's this weird possibility of freedom or something new or something unexpected for her," Birn noted. "She doesn't have clear answers," the actress added. "She's insecure of which direction is the right direction. Is her programming sending one direction or could it be this and that? And what happens? Her mind exploding for all these options is part of what The Mule offers for her. It is like the possibility to see things differently, so it definitely changes her course." So, is Foundation a cautionary tale for viewers in 2025? "I wouldn't want to tell anyone how to watch the show," Pace said. "The show is such a feast," he added. "You can pick and choose and think about things that resonate with you." The fact that the brilliant Hari Seldon (Jared Harris) has devised a way to protect and store all human knowledge on a safe planet is a positive message to impart to audiences. "At the center of the show is this idea of hope that Hari Selden proposes that there is a mathematical likelihood that we will survive this," Pace said. "It's not a zero chance that we will," he added. "There's a hope inside the show that I really appreciate. There's a sense of, 'You can bet on humans' ability to continue to travel on.'" Birn said she thinks her character's existence also makes the show relevant to people grappling with real-life issues connected to artificial intelligence. "We've created AI. We've taught AI everything it knows. But not even the ones who are creating it now have an idea where it will evolve and what happens if, suddenly, there's another species that's equal to us or even dominant," she added. "It's more than being afraid of AI, but more being a little bit afraid of how we will treat that other species, if it evolves." The cast also includes Lou Llobell, Cherry Jones, Brandon P. Bell, Synnøve Karlsen, Cody Fern, Tómas Lemarquis, Alexander Siddig and Troy Kotsur.
Gizmodo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
The Cleon Clones of ‘Foundation' on Getting to Cut Loose in Season 3
Foundation season three begins today, bringing viewers 152 years beyond season two. Empire is still in power, but its grasp on the galaxy has weakened considerably. As for the ruling Cleon clones, Brother Day (Lee Pace) has shrugged off his official duties in favor of a pleasure-filled lifestyle, leaving Brother Dawn (Cassian Bilton), who's on the brink of aging into Brother Day's throne, and Brother Dusk (Terrence Mann), who's facing his rapidly approaching permanent retirement, taking charge in his place. Amid all this personal turmoil, Empire's robot advisor, Demerzel (Laura Birn), informs the Cleons a bigger problem is at hand: while they've long been aware the fall of their reign is coming, that time is now much closer than they realized. Also, there's the small matter of a possible doomsday on the horizon, threatening not just Empire's long-held control on humanity, but the existence of humanity itself. At a press day ahead of Foundation's return, io9 talked to Bilton and Mann about what Brother Dawn and Brother Dusk are facing in the show's thrilling, high-stakes third season. Cheryl Eddy, io9: Season three brings out maybe the most distinctive Cleons we've met yet. As performers, how do you approach playing the different versions? Does it start from the same place and you build nuance from there? Terrence Mann: Cassian came upon this metaphor that is so apt, and it's so perfect, and I wish we'd have known it five years ago when we started. Cassian Bilton: I'm sure he's hyped this up too much now [laughs]. But [my approach to the] character is essentially [that] playing Cleon over an extended period, but coming each time back to play different iterations of him, is a bit like coming to a season and dipping a brush into the same paint pot, but using a different movement on the canvas and ending up with something different. You're ultimately working with the same raw material, but you're in a different circumstance. And really what we do as actors is trust that we have that knowledge of Cleon the First behind us, and then we just basically—it's our writers that really put us in circumstances that differ each season, and that's how these different expressions of Cleon the First come out. io9: Brother Dusk has a powerful arc in season three. He's facing the end, but he's not going down quietly. How would you describe his headspace as the season begins? Mann: I think you could literally take the template of King Lear, Act 1, Scene 1, and go all the way to Act 5, Scene 4. That seems to be his descent into madness. But it doesn't start out that way. It starts out with a very clear picture of what he wants the family to do and become, and then things just go awry. That's what I thought about when I was reading it. And by the way, you know, these were page-turners. All 10 episodes, when we got them, we were just like, 'Wow that's happening? That's happening?' That's kind of the beauty of what we're doing this season, certainly for Cassian and I, is that [our characters] start out hoping for something in the beginning, and that drastically changes by the end of episode 10. So we've got a big sandbox to play in, and we're bouncing all over the place doing that. Big time. io9: The idea that the clones are on this regular cycle of decanting and 'ascension' has been well established, but this is the first time we've really dug into the emotions around that. What was it like getting to explore that aspect of your character? Bilton: If I'm honest, I've sort of been waiting for this moment since I was cast. I think it's a very strange thing as an actor to watch other actors take on the later life of a character that you're playing. I think my position in the show has always been young, fragile naiveté. Dawn is very lonely and sadly introspective in season one, and I think he finds his feet a little bit more in season two. But I've kind of been sitting on the sidelines like, 'Coach, let me play!' when it comes to ruling the galaxy. And I feel like I managed to take a swing of the bat this season and hopefully be the kind of Dawn that we can conceivably, as an audience, believe could turn into Brother Day. io9: Did you feel like you were getting to cut loose more this time around? Bilton: 100%, 100% was able to cut loose for sure. I felt like, just to speak to it from an acting point of view, I was able to stretch and flex my muscles a little bit more as an actor. I was given so much opportunity by the writers to really jump in headfirst to this season and really help drive that story forward. And I'm really grateful to them for that chance because I had such a great time filming it. I think the scenes that I've shot with Terry and Lee [Pace] landed in a really interesting place because I think what's fascinating about the Cleons is—it's both seeing them as individuals and seeing this inflection point of, 'Well, how close can I get to the performance of this other actor?' io9: We don't get a ton of scenes with the three Cleons together in season three. But there's that one lighthearted moment you share in the throne room where you're all laughing together. Was that a special scene to film amid a season that's otherwise filled with a lot of darkness? Mann: That was art imitating life. That was really the three of us sitting out there because we hadn't worked together, I don't think, for a week or two or maybe even longer. And we've been really in disparate parts of studios and stuff. So to have that moment—and there's never been a moment like that in any of the other seasons—it was very special. Bilton: I think because Day has left [palace life] behind, they're able to sort of drop the front a bit. In that scene particularly, you see them all dropping the front. 'Okay, yes, we rule the galaxy, but yeah, we're kind of exhausted by it. Like, how are you doing? How are you feeling about this?' Really something that we've touched on a lot in our conversations about this season is the Cleons ultimately are very lonely people. They live in an environment where they only interact with different iterations of themselves or a humanoid robot; they're lacking in intimacy or a gentleness and closeness to other human beings in a huge way. I think that's why their relationship with Demerzel is so moving in the show, because she's the only person that shows them kindness. I'm so glad to hear that that scene [in the throne room] resonates, because I think it's a really pivotal point in the season. And it's the first time and the last time you see the three of them together before they go off on their own separate journeys of self-discovery. The first episode of Foundation season three is now streaming on Apple TV+. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Gizmodo
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Foundation' Star Lee Pace Teases Season 3's Brand-New Flavor of Brother Day
If you've been tuning into Foundation for the sci-fi intrigue, detailed world-building, and the way the characters wield math like a superpower—you'll be very pleased with season three. But if you've also been enjoying the hell out of Lee Pace's performance as Brother Day, the middle brother among Foundation's ever-revolving ruling trio of clones named Cleon, well… let's just say you're in for quite the delight when the Isaac Asimov adaptation returns to Apple TV+. And Pace himself agrees: this Brother Day, who has checked out of palace life as much as he can in favor of a more leisurely, drug-fueled existence, is an all-timer. 'It's been my favorite [version of Day] so far,' he told io9 at a recent Foundation press day. 'It's one of the fun things about this show, is that I get to play some characters that are just wildly different than each other. But I really kind of learned a lot about what the emperor is in playing someone who rejects it. You know, he's not interested. He's going to mind his own business. He is not going to try to control anything.' This is the most quotable Cleon we've met by far; 'Welcome to my filth!' and 'I'm leaning into indignity' are just two of his golden zingers. 'I think he's funny,' Pace agreed. 'I think even I think he finds himself funny. He's still got the Cleonic ego. He is just not executing anyone.' No spoilers here, but let's just say Brother Day goes on an intriguing journey in season three—one that's far different from the paths we've seen other versions of him take, including the deeply cruel, space-traveling Cleon the 17th of season two. 'Like I said, I think he wants to just mind his own business,' Pace said. 'He doesn't want to try to influence [politics]; he's not trying to save the day. He's not trying to be the hero of the story. There's other people in the story that are serving that function. He just wants to mind his business. And he doesn't think he has any role to play in the galaxy.' Day's relationship with Demerzel (Laura Birn), the ancient robot programmed to serve Empire—making her the true architect of its regime, as we saw in season two—is frosty as season three begins. She's who 'decants' each new Cleon and controls their lives from the inside, and Pace's character resents her for it. 'He thinks he's this product that is made by a robot to serve her purposes, and he is… It feels disgusting for that reason, you know? So he runs from it all. And in running from it, he kind of finds himself back home again.' Pace continued. 'And he finds himself with purpose and with something extremely valuable to fight for. Because he [comes to realize that], like right under his nose the whole time, he has the most magnificent opportunity to help the galaxy that anyone could have.' 'I find it surprising. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil it, but the changes within him are delicate. And inside of a show that is about the fall of the galactic civilization and the possible extinction of the human species after it has swelled to this unfathomable size, I think there's something really interesting. It's a show about minds, human minds: Gaal Dornick's mind, Hari Seldon's mind, Demerizel's electronic mind and emotions. I think with Cleon, we're looking at his very messy, fallible… deeply subconscious human mind.' Welcome yourself to Brother Day's filth when Foundation season three premieres its first episode: July 11 on Apple TV+. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Newsweek
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Foundation Season 3 Release Date, Episode List, and Where to Watch
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors New characters, a new showrunner, and a 152-year time jump. Apple TV+ is shaking things up for the eagerly -awaited third season of ambitious sci-fi drama Foundation. After a two-year absence, it's back to continue adapting legendary author Isaac Asimov's series of influential novels. But there's plenty of divergence from the source material in store. So, what happens in Foundation Season 3, when does Foundation Season 3 release, and why the century and a half leap into the future? Scroll down for all the details you need to know. Lee Pace as Brother Day in Foundation Season 3 Lee Pace as Brother Day in Foundation Season 3 First, a short history. Foundation premiered on Apple TV+ on September 24, 2021. Foundation Season 2 premiered roughly two years later on July 14, 2023. In December 2023, the series was renewed for a third season. Here's when it releases. Foundation Season 3 Release Date Foundation Season 3 releases on Friday 11th July 2025. Episodes release weekly until the finale on 12th September. Where to Watch Foundation Season 3 You can watch Foundation Season 3 on Apple TV+. It's exclusive to that platform, so the only way to watch it is with a subscription to Apple TV+. How Many Episodes in Foundation Season 3? Foundation Season 3 has ten episodes, each approximately one hour long. Foundation Season 3 Episode List New episodes of Foundation Season 3 release every Friday, starting on July 11th 2025 and concluding on 12th September 2025. Here is the full episode schedule for Foundation Season 3. Episode 1: Friday, July 11, 2025 Episode 2: Friday, July 18, 2025 Episode 3: Friday, July 25, 2025 Episode 4: Friday, August 1, 2025 Episode 5: Friday, August 8, 2025 Episode 6: Friday, August 15, 2025 Episode 7: Friday, August 22, 2025 Episode 8: Friday, August 29, 2025 Episode 9: Friday, September 5, 2025 Episode 10: Friday, September 12, 2025 Foundation Season 3 Story Set a century and a half after Foundation Season 2, there's a powerful new enemy to contend with: The Mule. He seeks nothing less than full and total control of the universe - by any means necessary. With all life under threat, both The Foundation and the Cleonic Dynasty are thrown into a deadly game of, as Apple TV+ puts it, "intergalactic chess." Foundation Season 3 Synopsis Apple TV+'s official Foundation Season 3 synopsis reads: "The Foundation has become increasingly established far beyond its humble beginnings while the Cleonic Dynasty's Empire has dwindled." "As both of these galactic powers forge an uneasy alliance, a threat to the entire galaxy appears in the fearsome form of a warlord known as 'The Mule' whose sights are set on ruling the universe by use of physical and military force, as well as mind control." "It's anyone's guess who will win, who will lose, who will live, and who will die as Hari Seldon, Gaal Dornick, the Cleons, and Demerzel play a potentially deadly game of intergalactic chess." Foundation Season 3 Cast Pilou Asbæk (Game of Thrones) joins an already glittering cast that also includes Lee Pace, Jared Harris, Leah Harvey, and Lou Llobell. Here's the full cast for Foundation Season 3. • Lee Pace as Brother Day • Jared Harris as Hariton "Hari" Seldon • Lou Llobell as Gaal Dornick • Leah Harvey as Salvor Hardin • Laura Birn as Demerzel • Terrence Mann as Brother Dusk • Cassian Bilton as Brother Dawn • Alexander Siddig as Dr. Ebling Mis • Troy Kotsur as Preem Palver • Pilou Asbæk as The Mule (taking over from Mikael Persbrandt) • Cherry Jones as Foundation Ambassador Quent • Synnøve Karlsen as Bayta Mallow • Cody Fern as Toran Mallow • Brandon P. Bell as Han Pritcher • Tómas Lemarquis as Magnifico Giganticus • Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing as Song • Leo Bill as Mayor Indbur What is Foundation? Based on the Foundation series of stories by Isaac Asimov, Apple TV+'s Foundation is an epic space saga that follows a pioneering institute that seeks to preserve humanity before its almighty collapse.
