Latest news with #Cleon
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.
Gizmodo
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Foundation' Season 3 Digs Into What It's Like for a Robot to Have an Existential Crisis
Foundation, Apple TV+'s adaptation of the famed Isaac Asimov novels, takes place in a galaxy facing an imminent, mathematically predicted age of darkness. It's troubling, especially for Empire, the genetic dynasty of clones named Cleon that's been in power for centuries, but it's not as bad as all-out extinction. But as season three begins, certain among Foundation's characters learn the math has changed, and total doomsday is all but certain. Some react to this news—signaled by worrisome changes in the Prime Radiant, the quantum supercomputer of sorts that divines what lies ahead—by escalating preventative actions, while others decide partying will help. But the most thought-provoking response comes from Foundation's arguably most complex character: Demerzel, played by Laura Birn. She's an ancient robot, the last survivor of the Robot Wars. Several hundred years ago, she was reprogrammed by the first Cleon to serve Empire—a directive that guides all of her actions and one she's powerless to defy. As Foundation has progressed, we've learned a lot about Demerzel. Her backstory gets more investigation in season three, but as Empire (and, by extension, all of humanity) faces what's to come, her role in that future becomes decidedly confusing. 'I'd say very much she is in an existential crisis,' Birn told io9 at a recent Foundation press day. 'For many centuries her path has been very clear, since [she was programmed by Cleon I], and before that also.' But that clear path is now muddied. 'This season, the information that the Prime Radiant offers—and when [season three villain] the Mule arrives, the effect it has on the whole galaxy—suddenly offers these new paths, possible paths. She's thought that she always knows the right answers, like, 'this is a way we have to work, this is the way I'm going to guide the galaxy, or guide the Cleons.'' Birn continued. 'Suddenly, when that shifts a bit, [a lot of] questions arise. What if the end comes? What's [her] responsibility in all this? Where does it leave [her] if the human species is destroyed? Is it a good thing for her? Is it something very lonely and sad? Does she carry a responsibility? Can she make a difference? So all these things kind of spiral her into a place of 'what is the purpose of my life, what is the meaning?' So it's very much an existential crisis.' Early in season three, Demerzel reaches out to a leader in the Luminist faith—Foundation fans will recall it from a key season one storyline—to act as a sounding board for her crisis. 'I think, like in many of her decisions, it's hard to say if it is a good thing or a helpful thing,' Birn said. 'In the palace nobody knows her secrets. She's very held back. She's very controlled. So to have those moments where she can literally reflect on her own things—decisions that she's made, contemplating the past and the future—it is powerful, but I'm not sure if it's helpful. Maybe for her, but maybe not for humankind.' Demerzel stores the Prime Radiant, which resembles a small jewelry box, inside her chest. It's almost where her heart would go if she were human. The choice is one made out of convenience, of course, but there's also a deeper meaning, as Birn pointed out. 'It's interesting: how do we define where the humanity in us lives? We often think that it's the heart that feels. Or it's the soul—where do we think the soul exists? That play of, that there's just a mechanical thing inside her, which is actually something so relevant for the whole galaxy, and the information that she holds close to her heart and the decisions that she makes. So yeah, I do love the play of that.' Foundation returns to Apple TV+ with weekly episodes starting July 11. 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
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Foundation' Returns With Its Best Season Yet
Foundation is not a show that lends itself to casual viewing. Its nuances and details, not to mention its constantly shifting settings, mean you must pay close attention to understand what's happening. It's also not really a show you can decide to start watching midway through, something to consider ahead of its third season premiere. But the rewards are worth it: it's wildly entertaining—thanks to its writing, layered world-building, and performances—and while it's a show that deals with very serious themes, Foundation also knows when to lighten up. Even as humanity faces extinction, it makes room for moments of levity and romance, as well as surprising twists that subvert audience expectations. That includes those who've read Isaac Asimov's Foundation books, which inspire but don't dictate the events of the series. Foundation also makes it easier on viewers whenever it can. This is a plot-heavy show with a lot of characters to keep track of, so it makes use of helpful narration as well as on-screen text to let us know where we are on the timeline. It also makes things very clear when we're visiting a new planet or region—something season three does a lot of, efficiently showing us just how much this story has expanded since season one. Season three picks up 152 years after season two. Some things look the same: Empire is still ruling the galaxy with its Cleon clones and ancient android Demerzel (Laura Birn); Foundation, now relocated to New Terminus, counts down the days until its creator Hari Seldon (Jared Harris) next emerges from his mysterious vault. The Second Foundation, created in secret, has been training psychic warriors. And the Prime Radiant, Seldon's compact supercomputer, is still predicting the fall of civilization, with an extended dark age to follow. That last bit is obviously worrisome, but at this point, Seldon's doom-filled prophecy—tabulated using his 'psychohistory,' used to envision the fates of large populations—has been out there for centuries. As we saw in season two, Demerzel and the Second Foundation both have access to the Prime Radiant and can keep tabs on psychohistory's progress. Demerzel keeps her Prime Radiant tucked in her chest, almost where her heart would be. The next big event is known to be the Foundation's Third Crisis. But Seldon's followers are no longer the scrappy colonists we met in seasons one and two; everyone, especially the leadership, has prospered. A civil war of sorts is brewing between Foundation's ruling elite and Foundation's merchant traders, who are led by the wealthy descendants of season two character Hober Mallow. But while Seldon's plan, which had veered off course in season two, is back on track, the Prime Radiant is now hinting that instead of merely a temporary period of struggle, the road ahead may lead to something far more permanent. This lends a layer of frantic dread to the feeling that things are rapidly falling apart—something that's exponentially enhanced once the Mule (Pilou Asbæk) starts rattling his saber. A self-styled pirate warlord who uses his psychic gifts to mind-control any opposition, with unimaginably cruel results—soldiers turning on each other with murderous friendly fire, people biting off their own fingers or willingly drowning themselves—the Mule's arrival was foreseen by Seldon's protégé, Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell). She's also psychic, and Foundation has long been teasing their predestined battle. The Mule's the reason Gaal has endured multiple extended cryosleep periods. She needs to be alive at the right time, because she believes she's the only one who can stop him. As Foundation sets up these separate yet connected narratives, there's lots of payoff for viewers who've become invested in the show. Things are barreling toward a face-off that's now years in the making—centuries in the making, if you're going by Foundation's fluid approach to time—but the pacing carefully makes room for all the different characters, all of whom are new aside from Seldon, Gaal, and Demerzel. That includes the three Cleons, who look familiar but are all-new, all-different versions of the same man we've met over and over again across Foundation's run. Brother Dusk (Terrence Mann) is dreading his imminent 'ascension'—he'll soon be incinerated to make way for a new baby Brother Dawn—while the current Brother Dawn (Cassian Bilton) will become Brother Day, the Cleon with the most power. That's problematic because the reigning Brother Day (Lee Pace) has completely fucked off from his official duties, preferring instead to get high, gamble, and laze around with the concubine he's chosen as his permanent companion. Season three's Cleons are by far the most complicated yet—though season two's Brother Day was definitely a piece of work, and his actions still reverberate 150 years after the fact. These men are clones of the first Emperor Cleon, but as we've learned in previous seasons, genetic irregularities have been introduced that mean they aren't actually identical to him or to each other. Dusk gets his meatiest arc yet as he faces his unavoidable end with a mix of bitterness, rage, and melancholy; Dawn, who has the makings of a gifted politician, expands on what we've seen previous versions of the character do by bravely pushing the boundaries of what Empire is capable of. But Day emerges, yet again, as one of the season's standouts. Pace appears to be having an absolute blast tearing through lines like 'Welcome to my filth!'—but despite slovenly appearances, this is no one-note Cleon, and his storyline is full of wild surprises. The Mule is also extremely memorable; after all that build-up, we see immediately—in the very first scene of the season premiere—the horrors that he's capable of, as well as the glee he takes in committing them. Gaal putting herself to sleep for generations to prepare for their meeting suddenly makes a lot more sense. Asbæk resists playing the Mule as merely a scenery-chewing villain with a terrifying grin; there's certainly some theatricality to the character's evil, but there's also a creepy sadness lurking beneath as he promises his victims how much they're really going to love him. But this is an Asimov story, and it's no surprise Foundation's best character—its most complex, most frustrating, and most frustrated—is Demerzel. She's the last remaining robot after humanity's victory in the ancient Robot Wars, but for the most part only the Cleons know her secret. (Everyone else assumes she's a clone, like the rulers are.) In season two, Foundation explored her backstory in depth, including how the first Emperor Cleon found her and tasked her to serve only his interests. Her driving force is Empire above all. She's the real puppeteer of the regime, and while she's done some villainous things (and she can be terrifying when she wants to be), she's not a villain. She's simply powerless to act freely, much less defy the directive she's been given. In season three, Demerzel's dilemma reaches paradoxical levels as she ponders existence without Empire. 'If I outlive my programming, I don't know what I am,' she realizes—and for the first time in a long time she considers what strange changes her own future might hold. That existential predicament is an example of what gives Foundation an extra edge over many other sci-fi shows. It's a story about the burdens that accompany being able to predict the future, especially a potentially disastrous one. But it's also about the various fascinating individuals—a psychotic psychic, a conflicted robot, a rebellious emperor, a cranky hologram, a woman who's lived for hundreds of years—who become caught up in trying to shape what's to come. Taken together, it's truly a fantastic voyage. Foundation season three premieres July 11 on Apple TV+. It then runs weekly through September 12. 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.
Business Upturn
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Upturn
Foundation Season 3: Release date speculation, cast and plot details – Everything we know so far
By Aman Shukla Published on May 2, 2025, 19:00 IST Last updated May 2, 2025, 12:52 IST Apple TV+'s Foundation , an ambitious adaptation of Isaac Asimov's iconic sci-fi novel series, has captivated audiences with its grand storytelling and stunning visuals. After a thrilling second season that ended in 2023, fans are eagerly awaiting Foundation Season 3. In this article, we dive into the latest release date speculation, cast updates, and plot details to keep you in the loop about this epic sci-fi saga. Foundation Season 3 Release Date Speculation While Apple TV+ has not yet announced an official release date for Foundation Season 3 , the series is confirmed to be in post-production, with filming having wrapped in 2024. Based on the production timeline of previous seasons, which typically take about two years between releases, a 2025 release is highly plausible. Some sources suggest a potential debut in late 2025, considering the extensive post-production required for the show's intricate special effects. Foundation Season 3 Expected Cast Foundation Season 3 will feature a mix of returning stars and exciting new additions, bringing fresh dynamics to the galactic narrative. Here's a look at the confirmed cast: Jared Harris as Hari Seldon: The psychohistorian whose predictions drive the story, preserved via cryosleep and digital consciousness. as Hari Seldon: The psychohistorian whose predictions drive the story, preserved via cryosleep and digital consciousness. Lou Llobell as Gaal Dornick: A key figure in the Foundation, set to confront the powerful antagonist, The Mule. as Gaal Dornick: A key figure in the Foundation, set to confront the powerful antagonist, The Mule. Lee Pace as Brother Day: The reigning Cleon clone, central to the Galactic Empire's genetic dynasty. as Brother Day: The reigning Cleon clone, central to the Galactic Empire's genetic dynasty. Laura Birn as Demerzel: The enigmatic android with a pivotal role in the Empire's future. as Demerzel: The enigmatic android with a pivotal role in the Empire's future. Cassian Bilton as Brother Dawn: The youngest Cleon clone, navigating the dynasty's turmoil. as Brother Dawn: The youngest Cleon clone, navigating the dynasty's turmoil. Terrence Mann as Brother Dusk: The elder Cleon, advising the Empire's rulers. as Brother Dusk: The elder Cleon, advising the Empire's rulers. Isabella Laughland as Brother Constant: A survivor from Season 2, operating within the Vault. as Brother Constant: A survivor from Season 2, operating within the Vault. Kulvinder Ghir as Poly Varisof: Another Vault survivor, tied to the Foundation's next phase. Foundation Season 3 Plot: What to Expect? Foundation Season 3 picks up after the dramatic events of Season 2, which concluded with a 152-year time jump. The season is expected to focus heavily on The Mule, a formidable mentalic warlord introduced in Season 2's flash-forwards. Showrunner David S. Goyer has confirmed that Season 3 will center on The Mule's conflict with Gaal Dornick and the Foundation, threatening Hari Seldon's plan to preserve humanity. Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
