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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lee Pace: Brother Day disillusioned with the Empire in 'Foundation' S3
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.
Newsweek
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Foundation Season 3 Episode 2: Where to Watch, Release Date
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 The second episode of "Foundation" is upon us. In this article you'll find out where to watch it, as plus the all-important synopsis. If you've not been keeping up with Apple TV+'s lavishly produced sci-fi drama, it sees various space-age factions embroiled in a dicey game of intergalactic chess as they battle a powerful new enemy called The Mule. Set 152 years after the events of season two, the fate of the known universe rests on the shoulders of Hari Seldon, Gaal Dornick, the Cleons, and Demerzel. Lee Pace in Foundation Season 3 Lee Pace in Foundation Season 3 Apple TV+ Read on for key info on "Foundation" Season 3 episode 2, plus a recap of what's already happened in the show. Where to Watch Foundation Season 3 Episode 2 Episode 2 of "Foundation" Season 3 premieres on Apple TV+ on Friday, 18th July 2025. The episode is called "Shadows in the Math." As per the official synopsis: "Gaal and Hari advance their plans on Ignis. Empire grapples with an unforeseen prediction. Pritcher enlists help to investigate the Mule." Foundation Season 3 Release Date "Foundation" Season 3 released on Friday 11th July 2025. Episodes release weekly until the finale on 12th September. 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 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. Foundation TV Show Recap Watch below to see Apple TV+'s recap of "Foundation", helping you get up to speed on the show's dramatic events up until now.
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.
Daily Record
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
'Strikingly relevant' sci-fi epic fans say is a 'masterpiece' is finally back for season 3
Apple TV+'s Foundation, starring Jared Harris and Lee Pace, is back for its third season and it's more timely than ever before Apple TV+'s captivating sci-fi spectacle, Foundation, has triumphantly returned for its third season, boasting a narrative more pertinent to our times than ever before. Drawing inspiration from the celebrated works of Isaac Asimov, this expansive series is set tens of thousands of years into the future. In this galaxy-spanning empire, clones derived from the original Emperor Cleon—played by Lee Pace, Cassian Bilton, and Terrence Mann as Brother Dawn, Day, and Dusk—hold dominion. The plot thickens as the brilliant mathematician Hari Seldon, portrayed by Jared Harris, develops the science of psychohistory, enabling him to predict a catastrophic fall of the Empire that would usher in an era shrouded in darkness. Seldon enlists the help of another mathematical prodigy, Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell), to establish the Foundation, a cosmic consortium with a critical mission: to salvage human enlightenment and knowledge. In this season, their alliance encounters an unprecedented adversary—the Mule (Pilou Asbæk) —a Mentalic and mercurial warmonger who wields the power to manipulate others' will, reports the Mirror. Season three underlines the timeless essence of classic sci-fi sagas, demonstrating how tales set eons away can strike a chord with contemporary societal dilemmas. Comments from the ensemble cast echo this sentiment, including those of Brother Dusk actor Mann, who disclosed to Express Online along with other media: "What happens in Foundation, for all three seasons, mirrors exactly what's happening in the world in any given country, or continent, or city, or home, or family, or town. "That part of humanity doesn't change, the dysfunctionality of families, they're there and we love them and that kind of storytelling has been here as long as the written word." Bilton, who plays Brother Dawn, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the show's relevance to the current state of the world. "I think the show this season, more than other seasons, has a very confronting relevance to the world we're living in right now. "What we explore this season is the idea that power ultimately shouldn't be held by one individual for too long." "There are elements of the Cleons' rule that are borderline fascistic, they are essentially autocrats. They're, for all intents and purposes, not democratically elected. They're clinging to power, even though that wouldn't be the right thing for them or anyone else. "You see across the entire Foundation universe the implications of that, and none of it's good. It really is war." Furthermore, the introduction of the Mule brings new themes that resonate eerily with today's digital landscape. Bilton pointed out the parallels between the Mentalic element and the influence of social media on our daily lives. "Of course it is a science-fiction idea but, I think with the rise of social media and its influence on the way in which we carry out our daily lives and the choices that we make being informed by the time we spend on our phones has echoes in what the Mule is able to do," he explained. "It's not so much that he has a very strong army of people with weapons, but he can get in the minds of people. What you're seeing now, both with the rise of AI and the proliferation of social media globally, is people have a shortcut into your attention and your mind. "Capitalism has taken over every single land mass in the world and now the thing it's coming for is the real estate of your mind. "That's echoed in the Mule so I do think there's a striking relevance this season to the world we're living in." Fans have lauded the show as "magnificent and majestic" and hailed it as a "groundbreaking adaptation" of Asimov's classic works, so be sure to carve out time for this impressive sci-fi series soon.
Telegraph
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Apple's mega-bucks sci-fi series remains one of the most bonkers shows on TV
As a technology company, Apple is renowned for its super-minimalist designs. But its rip-roaringly over-the-top sci-fi romp, Foundation (Apple TV +), has the very opposite philosophy as it returns for a thrillingly calorific third season. Ludicrous, lavish and larkingly largely than life, it is one of the most bonkers TV shows ever made and all the richer for that lack of inhibition. Foundation is science fiction with rocket jets cranked to the maximum – and benefits from gorgeously evocative special effects which have the camp charm of a 1970s prog rock album cover. It is loosely adapted from the cult Isaac Asimov novels about the slow decline of a vast intergalactic empire that Asimov envisioned as a sort of Rome among the stars (the books were a huge influence on George Lucas's Star Wars). The latest series picks up the story after a 152-year time jump – and following significant behind-the-scenes upheaval that saw production temporarily suspended in early 2024, resulting in the departure of showrunner David Goyer. That delay came amid rumours that Foundation's $45 million-per-year budget was too hefty even for a company with Apple's bottomless pockets. However, such problems have seemingly been ironed over. With little evidence of penny-pinching, the series reunites viewers with Lee Pace as hysterically camp galactic emperor Cleon and Jared Harris as immortal mathematician Hari Seldon. He is the architect of the 'Foundation' – a sort of shadow imperium designed to keep human civilisation alive after he predicts the Empire's inevitable collapse. Foundation has the scale and sweep of Star Wars or Star Trek. But its intricate plot and vast cast place it closer in spirit to Game of Thrones. The Thrones parallels are made more explicit with the arrival of Westeros actor Pilou Asbæk, playing an apparently psychic war-lord referred to as 'The Mule'. He is a literal disturbance in the force, who blazes a trail of chaos across the galaxy and jeopardises the future of both the Foundation and the Empire – and eventually comes into contact with vapid intergalactic influencers Toran (Cody Fern) and Bayta (Synnøve Karlsen) Seldon, who lives on as a hologram, predicted the Mule's emergence. And so he and his protege Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell) are woken from cryosleep to deal with this new threat. But though they are ready for action, their old nemesis Cleon (Pace) has lost his interest in life as supreme overlord. He has instead morphed into Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski – spending his days flapping around in a dressing gown and puffing on spliffs. Luckily for the Empire, the weight of the galaxy does not sit on his shoulders alone. Cloned from the original Cleon, at any one time, the Emperor exists in three forms: as a young man (Dawn, played by Cassian Bilton), an older one (Day, aka Pace) and the elderly (Dusk – Terrence Mann). With Day busy toking his way to oblivion, the task of keeping manners on the Mule and Foundation rests with Dawn and Dusk. They are assisted by creepy robot adviser Demerzel (Laura Birn), while the series also introduces Tómas Lemarquis as Magnifico Giganticus, The Mule's shy and seemingly harmless jester and court musician. Newcomers will want to catch up with the previous two seasons. Whatever else it is, Foundation is not a binge-watch to dive into head-first. Meanwhile, fans of the books will be interested to see whether it can pull off the huge surprise that Asimov carried off with his Mule storyline. Do so, and Foundation will have achieved a shock up there with the Red Wedding on Game of Thrones. But even if it mucks up the Mule twist, this is a sci-fi show like no other – gorgeous, cerebral and unapologetically out to lunch.
