Latest news with #JaredHarris
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.
Boston Globe
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
‘Drop,' a new ‘Jaws' doc, plus more hit movies and TV shows to watch this weekend
From left: Brandon Sklenar and Meghann Fahy in "Drop," directed by Christopher Landon. Bernard Walsh/Universal Pictures 'Drop' Available on Peacock 'JAWS @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story' Advertisement If you're not sick of the Available on Disney+ and Hulu Bonus pick: After hitting Advertisement New TV shows now available to stream Jared Harris in "Foundation." Apple TV+ 'Foundation' Apple TV+'s gorgeous sci-fi epic 'Foundation' returns for its third season on Friday. An adaptation of the fan-favorite novels from Isaac Asimov, 'Foundation' centers around a group of exiles in the far future who want to save civilization as their Galactic Empire crumbles around them. The show features an impressive cast, including Jared Harris ('Chernobyl'), Lee Pace ('Halt and Catch Fire'), and newcomer Cherry Jones ('Succession'), with the Emmy and Tony winner joining for season 3. Available on Apple TV+ Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3 As someone who spent years covering combat sports, it takes a lot for me to get excited about a big fight these days. But I have to say, I'm pretty pumped for Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3. Set to throw down Friday night at Madison Square Garden, Ireland's Taylor will look to make it a perfect 3-0 against Serrano, as the boxing stars headline a history-making card for Netflix featuring an all-women lineup. Available on Netflix Binge-worthy weekend TV pick From left: Kaitlin Olson as Dee, Charlie Day as Charlie, Glenn Howerton as Dennis, and Rob McElhenney as Mac in "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." Patrick McElhenney/FX 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' It's hard to believe, but 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' kicked off its 17th season this week, extending its record as America's longest-running live-action comedy show. The lovable scumbags of Paddy's Pub get to team up again with another Philadelphia institution this season, as the cast of 'Abbott Elementary' appears in this week's premiere. A prior crossover episode featured the 'Sunny' cast guest-starring on 'Abbott.' Available on Hulu Movie night pick Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in "A Star Is Born." Neal Preston 'A Star Is Born' It's been nearly seven years since the latest Available on Netflix Advertisement Matt Juul is the assistant digital editor for the Living Arts team at the Boston Globe, with over a decade of experience covering arts and entertainment. Matt Juul can be reached at
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.
Forbes
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
What Time Does ‘Foundation' Season 3 Premiere On Streaming?
"Foundation" Season 3 partial poster. Apple TV+ Foundation , starring Jared Harris, Lee Pace and star Lou Llobell, returns to streaming on Apple TV+ this week with Season 3. An Apple TV+ original, Foundation Season 1 was released in 2021 and was followed by Season 2 in 2023. The official summary for Foundation Season 3 reads, 'Set 152 years after the events of Season 2, The Foundation has become increasingly established far beyond its humble beginnings while the Cleonic Dynasty's Empire has dwindled. Forbes What Time Does 'Dexter: Resurrection' Premiere On Streaming? By Tim Lammers '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 (Jared Hess), Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobel), the Cleons (Lee Pace and Cassian Bilton) and Demerzel (Laura Birn) play a potentially deadly game of intergalactic chess. Returning cast members for Foundation Season 3 include Terrence Mann and Rowena King. New cast members this season include Cherry Jones, Brandon P. Bell, Synnøve Karlsen, Cody Fern, Tómas Lemarquis, Alexander Siddig, Troy Kotsur and Pilou Asbæk. Forbes What Time Does 'Murderbot' Season Finale Begin Streaming? By Tim Lammers Foundation is the creation of Josh Friedman and David S. Goyer. Foundation Season 3, which consists of 10 episodes, begins streaming on Friday, July 11, at 12:01 a.m. PT / 3:01 a.m. PT with Episode 1. The remaining nine episodes will be released weekly on Fridays through Sept. 12. Foundation Season 3 has to date earned a 100% 'fresh' rating from Rotten Tomatoes critics based on eight reviews. The RT Critics Consensus and Popcornmeter score based on verified user ratings are still pending. Nick Schager of The Daily Beast is among the top critics on RT who gives Foundation Season 3 a 'fresh' rating, writing in his review summary that the series 'continues to put the rest of its small-screen genre brethren to shame with its momentous, magnificent third season.' Forbes 'Superman': Opening Projections Below Long-Range Box Office Forecast By Tim Lammers In addition, James Dyer of Empire Magazine writes in his 'fresh' RT summary that Foundation Season 3 is 'a stunning, sweeping and cerebral space odyssey.' Also, John DeVore of AV Club writes of the show in his 'fresh' review on RT , 'The stakes are high this season, but they've always been high. Foundation has no chill setting, which can be viewed as the show's weakness and also its strength.' Foundation Season 3 begins streaming on Friday at 12:01 a.m. ET / 3:01 a.m. PT with Episode 1. Forbes Horror Hit 'Until Dawn' Gets Netflix Streaming Date By Tim Lammers
Gizmodo
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Even ‘Foundation' Star Jared Harris Can't Explain That Big Hari Seldon Mystery
Foundation returns to Apple TV+ this week, jumping ahead 152 years and plunging its characters into an end-of-the-world scenario. One of the key figures is Hari Seldon, played by Jared Harris. He created the Foundation in season one as a way to preserve civilization after his 'psychohistory' predicted a coming age of darkness. In the wild drama that's followed, we've seen Hari die and then resurrect as separate digital clones, one of which ended up getting a new human body in season two. It's complicated! Foundation is a show with many layers, and Hari—already a character who can be in two places at once—is maybe the trickiest one of all. Ahead of the season three premiere, io9 got a chance to talk to Harris about what it's like playing simultaneous yet very different versions of the same man and what challenges Hari faces as the stakes rise in season three. Cheryl Eddy, io9: As season three begins, we see that the Hari Seldon that's part of the Second Foundation is now very, very elderly. This is the Hari that received a second-chance body in season two, and he's made the choice to let Gaal stay in cryosleep while he stays awake for all those years instead. Do you think that was a tough decision for him to make? Jared Harris: Well, it wouldn't be the first time that he sacrificed himself. He does that in the first season, although this one seems pretty final. I think it comes about as a realization that because of the events of the first season, they have not been able to create the Second Foundation at the point they were supposed to, and they have to play catch-up, and they're going to do it Gaal's way. But also, Gaal's life is more valuable than his. It's really a kind of passing of the baton, if you like. io9: We never do learn how that body comes back to him. It's a real sci-fi mystery. And then when he expires, he goes to a mysterious place too. Did you have any theories or ideas about what was going on there? Harris: I had questions—they don't answer them for me either. I was like, 'Why has he got this? Am I a robot? Am I a human being? What am I?' 'No, you're not a robot. You're definitely a human being.' We also know that cloning technology exists within this world. Where [Hari goes], I've got no idea. I mean, I asked. You ask those questions when you're on set, and they just sort of nod and go, 'Yeah, it's a good question.' And then you realize you're not going to get an answer. So I can't help you. [Laughs] io9: That's one of the things I really like about the show, though, is that it doesn't spell everything out for you. Sometimes you maybe will have to rewind a little bit to be like, 'Wait, what just happened?' and then come up with your own answers. Harris: I think that's one of the secrets of a successful show, is if they're able to engage the audience in using their own imagination in filling out the unknown areas of the show, and it demands a certain amount of patience. It's what you don't get if you dump all the episodes all at once and encourage the audience to binge, because then any questions they have are going to be answered when they just start up the next episode. So I think it's a good thing to make them wait and then have to engage their own mind and their own imagination as to what may or may not happen. io9: To quote the show, 'Foundation has become comfortable' in season three. How would you characterize Hari's role—hologram Hari's role—the way the Foundation is now, after so much time has passed since it all began? Harris: In the intervening time between two and three, the Foundation's moved out of what they call the religious phase, and it's embraced the science that is available to them. And I think that that role that he was playing previously has become something of a straitjacket to him. I remember I said that last season Hari was up on Mount Olympus, and this season, I think he wants to come back down to earth. io9: Foundation is a show that features different versions of the same characters. There are the Cleon clones, of course, but Hari's situation is even more complicated. How did you sort of plot out the variations in your performances, from original Hari to the hologram Haris to the hologram Hari that becomes human again? Harris: Well, they've gone through very different experiences. One of the things that I attached to, and [discussed] in my conversations with the writers and the directors of the episodes, was the Hari that exists who's with Gaal—you don't go through what he experienced without it profoundly affecting you, and to some degree you're never going to be able to shake that off. So he's damaged to some level that he will never be able to overcome. And then the other version of Hari has had a little bit of a wake-up call from last season in that he realizes that he's sort of a figment of somebody else's imagination. His digital consciousness has been digitally altered by corporeal Hari, or the other version of himself, or previous version of himself, and that's shaken him. He's going through something of an existential crisis. So you take all those strands with you and see where you can use those ideas in the performance of a scene. io9: One of the big themes of Foundation that really comes out in season three is the burden of knowing what the future will bring—and the different ways people react to that. Do you think Hari is optimistic about humanity's chances, even after all he's seen and been through? Harris: I think he's definitely optimistic about it. You'd have to be. And I think that the version of Hari that's with Gaal, I think the reason why he feels he's willing to make the sacrifice that he makes is that he feels that she's going to be able to succeed, given her incredible intelligence, her facility to understand the complexity of psychohistory, and this other [extra-sensory] gift that she has. I think the other version of Hari is probably trying to figure out what his role is. And is he going to be happy with that role, given that he thought he was the one who was handing out the parts? He didn't realize that he had his part handed to him. io9: That's one of the things I love about science fiction. It could be a story about the world maybe ending, but there's also optimism and hope that can be found, which I think is the kind of story we need right now especially. Harris: I mean, stories without hope are tough to get through, you know. [Mad Men's] Matt Weiner described it as like sticking your face in a toilet. Yeah, you need hope. Foundation season three premieres 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.
