Go behind the scenes of Stephen King’s The Institute as we talk to the producer, writer, and stars about this thrilling new series.

In a world grappling with seemingly insurmountable challenges and a pervasive sense of chaos, a new series based on Stephen King’s chilling and prescient novel, The Institute, emerges as a timely and compelling narrative. This adaptation promises to be more than just a horror story; it’s a powerful statement about resilience, self-reliance, and the unyielding spirit of those who dare to challenge the status quo.

We sat down with the creative forces bringing this vision to life – producer Jack Bender, writer Benjamin Cavell, and stars Joe Freeman (who plays Luke Ellis) and Ben Barnes (who plays Tim Jamieson) – to explore the depths of this unique and impactful adaptation.

The Genesis of a Timely Tale

For Jack Bender, the journey began six years ago when Stephen King sent him the galleys of the novel. A veteran director known for his work with young actors, Bender was immediately drawn to the story, particularly its focus on children. “I loved working with kids,” he recounts, emphasizing that the key to such a project is “finding the right kids.” He credits the production’s good fortune in casting not only Joe Freeman, who plays the central figure of Luke Ellis, but also Ben Barnes and the ensemble of young actors who form the heart and soul of the show.

Beyond the engaging characters, Bender found a profound resonance with current events, specifically the Parkland school shooting. He vividly recalls watching the student survivors of that tragedy “stand up and become this political force,” challenging the establishment and demanding change. “They said, you know what? You all screwed up. We’ve got to fix this. We know how. Get out of our way.”

This powerful display of youth activism struck Bender deeply, solidifying the series’ core message: “children shall inherit the earth, but first they have to save themselves.” This philosophy became the “touchstone” for Bender and Cavell, making The Institute feel exceptionally timely, even aside from its thrilling and entertaining elements.

A Story Where Kids Lead the Way

Benjamin Cavell echoed this sentiment, expressing his fascination with how adults often claim to act “for the kids” without ever truly listening to them. “Almost none of them ever ask the kids what they need or what they want or what they think,” he observes. This fundamental disconnect is precisely what makes The Institute so vital. “I just love that this story was about the kids and about the kids saving themselves,” Cavell states. It was crucial for King, Bender, and Cavell from the outset that the narrative never introduce a stereotypical “action hero riding to the rescue.”

Instead, the focus remains firmly on the children’s realization that they must “rely on ourselves to and each other to get us out of it.” This message, Cavell believes, is “pretty magical” and undeniably relevant, highlighting how kids are forced to “fix the world that the rest of us have…not fixed.”

Bringing the World of “The Institute” to Life

For the stars, bringing King’s world to life presented its own unique challenges and excitements. Joe Freeman, who portrays Luke Ellis, the powerful central character, revealed that he read the book only after securing the role. His immediate focus, he admitted with a laugh, was on the visual translation: “It was seeing all of the the things in the institute. I was very excited to see what the studio would look like and where we would be filming.” This anticipation for the physical manifestation of King’s terrifying institution speaks to the visceral experience the series aims to deliver.

Ben Barnes, playing Tim Jamieson, the ex-police officer who finds himself inadvertently drawn into the children’s struggle, also shared his initial impressions. He read the book between receiving one of the scripts and being offered the role, reading it “very, very fast just in case I didn’t get the job, because I didn’t want a Stephen King story to be ruined by disappointment.” Barnes likened his early curiosity about the detailed world-building to his experience with “The Narnia films,” wondering about “what will the sword look like?” and in “The Institute,” even contemplating “what will be in the vending machine?” These small details, he notes, contribute to the immersive nature of King’s universes.

A Dual Narrative of Thrills and Themes

When asked what they would tease for audiences unfamiliar with the novel, Freeman offered a blunt but intriguing warning: “You’re going to need to strap yourself in because it’s a lot of children going through things that are not very nice.” He described it as a “commitment,” but one that is ultimately “a really fun thing, you’re rooting for everybody to be okay.” Barnes further elaborated on the show’s layered appeal, highlighting the distinct yet intertwined narratives.

“You can watch it in more than one way,” he explained, noting the “very exciting kind of story about these kids” desperate to escape their imprisonment. Then there’s his character, Tim, who is “looking for peace in a chaotic world.”

The pull of the story, Barnes believes, lies in wondering “how these stories are going to merge and what they really mean.” He sees Stephen King’s recurring theme of “the chaos of the world” woven into this narrative, particularly in “these vulnerable kids fighting against this kind of big authoritarian system.”

The Nuance of Evil

The team also delved into the nuanced portrayal of the series’ antagonists, notably Mary Louise Parker’s character, who embodies a chilling blend of charm and diabolical conviction. Bender lauded Parker’s ability to “walk that razor blade of charm and diabolical evil,” noting that her character is a “true believer in their cause.” Cavell expanded on this, explaining their deliberate choice to present villains not as mustache-twirling caricatures, but as individuals genuinely believing in their distorted cause – a reflection of the real world where, as he astutely points out, “villains are certain they’re not the villain.”

These antagonists operate with a “completely understandable justification for what they’re doing,” convinced that their horrifying actions are for “the greater good.” This complexity, Cavell believes, “only makes the whole tapestry that much more complex and I think compelling and resonates for us also.”

As the conversation concluded, both Barnes and Freeman expressed their excitement for audiences to experience The Institute, a series that promises not only thrilling suspense but also a powerful and timely message of hope and defiance in the face of overwhelming odds. It’s a story that reminds us that even in the darkest of times, the strength to overcome injustice can often be found in the most unexpected and vulnerable of places.

Be sure to check out our full interview with the cast and creatives behind The Institute to learn more about this series.

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Foundation Season 3: Cast reveals on The Mule’s arrival, crumbling Empire, and character evolutions during these exciting interviews.

Foundation, Apple TV+’s ambitious adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s legendary saga, has consistently pushed the boundaries of sci-fi television, and if the cast is to be believed, Season 3 is set to elevate the series to unprecedented heights. The show simply gets better and better with each episode, let alone with each season.

Mama’s Geeky caught up with some of the cast to discuss Foundation Season 3. In these interviews, stars Pilou Asbæk (The Mule), Jared Harris (Hari Seldon), Cassian Bilton (Brother Dawn), Terrence Mann (Brother Dusk), Laura Birn (Demerzel), Lee Pace (Brother Day), and Lou Llobell (Gaal Dornick) offer glimpses into the upcoming season, emphasizing its grander scale, the convergence of storylines, and the highly anticipated, impactful arrival of The Mule.

Pilou Asbæk on the Grand Introduction of The Mule

Pilou Asbæk, who portrays the pivotal character of The Mule, expressed immense pride and excitement for the new season, particularly regarding his character’s unexpected and grand introduction.

“Opening season three with a big, and you’re a geeky girl, so I’m going to say a big ass introduction to the Mule and to Foundation,” Asbæk shared. “It was incredible.” He candidly admitted to initially forgetting the significance of his opening scene, only realizing its magnitude upon watching it. Pilou Asbæk enthusiastically states that Season 3 sees “all of the worlds get together,” comparing the narrative cohesion to “Lego… it just went click.” This synergy, he explains, brings disparate storylines into one cohesive and narrative.

Pilou Asbæk also provided a fascinating look into his character’s portrayal. He revealed that receiving The Mule’s backstory allowed him to craft a far more complex and empathetic villain.

“When I got a bit of background story to The Mule, it made it much more nuanced,” Asbæk explained. “It made the audience understand why. Why he is who he is.” He highlights a particular line, “You will all come to love me one day. I just want to be loved,” as key to understanding The Mule’s core desire – a universal yearning for affection that he lacks.

This emotional void, Asbæk suggests, is what truly forges him into a villain, making him relatable despite his destructive power. He also praises the show’s writing for creating characters that are “three-dimensional,” allowing audiences to “identify with the choices they have to make,” and noting that even the Cleons are becoming “more and more human, and therefore more and more flawed.”

Lou Llobell on Gaal’s Softer Side

Lou Llobell was particularly excited about Gaal Dornick’s romantic storyline in Foundation Season 3, revealing she had “honestly begging David after season two… please just get her a boyfriend.”

She loved finally seeing this softer, more delicate side of Gaal, which hasn’t been present since the short-lived relationship with Raych. Llobell noted how “beautiful” it was to explore this facet of her character while Gaal simultaneously evolves into a powerful, strong, and confident adult. Gaal is now fully embracing her responsibility, determined to defeat The Mule, even if it means being “a little bit obsessive” in her noble quest to save humanity.

Lou Llobell reflected on Gaal’s unique experience with time, noting that while hundreds of years have passed for her due to cryosleep, she was “so young when she got this information,” and the actual subjective time for processing it hasn’t been long at all. This led Llobell to ponder the nature of cryosleep itself: “is she dreaming or is she asleep or is she just like… shut down?”

She finds it intriguing to consider whether Gaal is conscious or processing information during these periods, as it directly impacts how much Gaal has genuinely absorbed and processed versus what only happens upon waking. This unresolved question highlights the complex psychological impact of Gaal’s journey.

Crafting Hari Seldon’s Many Faces

When David Goyer first approached Jared Harris about Foundation, a core part of the pitch revolved around the idea of multiple versions of Hari Seldon. These iterations needed to be distinct from each other, with their evolution deliberately obscured to keep audiences guessing. Harris explained that this intricate journey for each character is a collaborative process with the writers, where they discuss how best to tell the story and what information is crucial for his portrayal of a particular Seldon.

Harris delved into the specifics of playing the Vault Seldon, noting that this version “can’t know anything about Second Foundation.” This is a direct consequence of his consciousness being “reedited,” meaning he would have no awareness of its creation or the actions of individuals like Raych connected to it. This lack of knowledge presents a “complete mystery” to Vault Seldon, and Harris works to incorporate these specific blind spots into his performance, finding ways to make them “useful” in how scenes are imagined and developed.

The Evolving Faces of Empire: Pace, Birn, Bilton, and Mann

The Cleonic dynasty, a cornerstone of Foundation‘s narrative, undergoes significant transformations in Season 3. Lee Pace, who embodies Brother Day, expressed his excitement about playing a drastically different version of the character. “The character we built this season is someone who doesn’t care about power, doesn’t want to be the Emperor, hates all the jerks in the palace, resents that they think they can control things,” Pace shared. This rebellious, almost apathetic iteration of Day, he believes, is “a fun character to put as… the center of the galaxy.”

Laura Birn, who portrays the enigmatic android Demerzel jokingly adds, “Don’t you feel safe to know that there is a robot ruling the galaxy?” She goes on to describe Demerzel’s journey as “heavyweight,” contrasting it with previous seasons. “She carries the burden on her shoulders and by herself,” Birn explains, highlighting Demerzel’s 25,000 years of memories and the increasingly ambiguous information from the Prime Radiant. “It’s starting to be more spiral than just one direction,” she notes, indicating a less clear path forward for the galaxy’s most powerful AI.

Cassian Bilton, as Brother Dawn, also experiences a significant evolution with this version of his character. He reveals a “very different Dawn from the Dawn that we know from previous seasons.” Unlike his season one counterpart who was “a lot more unsure of himself,” this Dawn is “very sure of himself, is very singular and very determined.” Bilton highlights a scene where Terrence Mann’s character describes Dawn as “the best of us,” emphasizing Dawn’s ambition to be the “best possible public face for this family that is falling apart.”

Terrence Mann, playing Brother Dusk, shared his excitement about the “chewy” nature of the scripts, describing them as a “real page turner.” He articulates the show’s current state: “everything changes… the wheels are coming off the wagon on every aspect of Foundation, of the empire, of the Cleonic dynasty, of everything exploding.” Mann particularly relished the opportunity to play a “King Lear in space,” portraying a king’s “devolve[ment] into tyrannical mania.” He emphasizes the thrill of having “that much at stake” for his character.

Convergence and Real-World Magic

Beyond individual character arcs, the cast universally praises the interconnectedness of Season 3. Llobell highlighted how The Mule’s arrival serves as a unifying “focus for both Foundation and Empire,” bringing a “new nuance” to the narrative. Mann echoed this sentiment, stating that “it’s very satisfying… the greyhounds have been let loose and they’re now chasing the rabbit.”

The actors also shared lighthearted moments, with Pace revealing the joy of working with real animals on set – a real ferret, camel, and lamb – showcasing the show’s commitment to tangible spectacle alongside its impressive CGI.

The cast’s insights promise a season where the stakes are higher than ever, characters are pushed to their limits, and the epic saga of humanity’s future truly “comes together” in a thrilling and unpredictable fashion.

Be sure to watch our full Foundation Season 3 interviews with the cast to learn more about the upcoming season.

Foundation Season 3 premieres on Apple TV+ July 11th. Seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming.

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Apple TV+’s Smoke is wild! We caught up with Jurnee Smollett & Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine about shocking twists and complex characters.

Apple TV+’s gripping new series, Smoke, plunges viewers into a world of hidden motives and burning secrets. Inspired by true events, the show follows a troubled detective, Michelle Calderone (Emmy Award nominee Jurnee Smollett), and an enigmatic arson investigator, Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton), as they pursue two elusive serial arsonists. But as they dig deeper, the lines between hero and villain blur, and it becomes clear that no one is truly what they seem. This psychological thriller is already being hailed as one of the most intense and surprising shows of 2025, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats with its constant twists and turns.

Mama’s Geeky had the incredible opportunity to sit down with two of the show’s talented stars, Jurnee Smollett and Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, to discuss their experiences bringing this complex narrative to life. From the intricate research involved in their roles to the challenges of portraying such nuanced characters, their insights offer a fascinating glimpse behind the Smoke and into the dark heart of this captivating series.

Jurnee Smollett on Michelle Calderone: Dancing with Fire

Jurnee Smollett, who portrays the driven yet complicated police detective Michelle Calderone detailed the extensive preparation she undertook for the role:

Mama’s Geeky: Did you do any kind of research into your character, Michelle Calderone?

Jurnee Smollett: I did a lot of research. I spoke to a lot of experts in the field. A former detective. I spoke to a former Marine, some arson investigators, and a firefighter, a few firefighters I spoke to. I did a few different things to prep. Physically transformed. Worked out with my trainer and put on 15 pounds of muscle so that Michelle could feel a little more muscular in her stance. You do all this research, and then you have to throw it away and show up on set and behave.

Mama’s Geeky: What was it like working with Taron Egerton?

Jurnee Smollett: No one in the show is what they seem. Everyone’s wearing a mask, and everyone’s got a secret, and everyone’s lying to themselves. And so with Michelle, here’s someone who’s dancing and playing with fire, and has this real fascination with things that are going to destroy her, whether it’s toxic relationships with her boss, who decides to demote her and transfer her to a job that she doesn’t want to be a part of because she broke up with him. I mean, she has this pattern of destruction and creation. And so when she meets up with Dave, neither one of them want her there. So there’s this weird dynamic initially of like, okay, I have to prove myself. I’ve been underestimated, so I’ve got nothing but this job, and I have to survive. So I need him. So let me disarm him. Let me be mentored by him. Let me ask him all these questions and feed into his ego. She’s much smarter than him, you know, in her mind. And so they’ve got this really fascinating dynamic that sometimes like a brother and sister, sometimes they’re enemies. Sometimes there’s a sexual tension between the two of them. And I loved working with Taron. Honestly, we didn’t talk a lot about it. We didn’t analyze it as much. We just did our work separately, and then came together. And that kind of magic, you know, can’t explain it.

Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine on His Layered Character: The Invisible Man

Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, whose character in Smoke is a masterclass in subtlety and hidden depths, expressed gratitude for the audience’s connection to his portrayal. “I’m so grateful that my character resonated with you,” he shared. “He’s living so far on the margins and has gone through such an extreme journey, his life, personal life, that as an actor, you just wonder if he could even fill those shoes.”

When asked about the inspirations for his character, Mwine revealed the freedom he was given by the series’ creator, Dennis Lehane:

Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine: He’s living so far on the margins and has gone through such an extreme journey, his life, personal life, that as an actor, you just wonder if he could even fill those shoes. So I’m grateful that it’s resonated with you. And I spoke to Dennis Lehane, creator of the series in the beginning, like, what is the jumping off point for you? Because this character is so extreme. And he just said, your imagination, you know, have creative freedom to play and to let yourself, your imagination, take you where it goes when these words and these actions come across the page. And so that, for me, sort of gave the freedom. Because sometimes as an actor, you feel the burden of, you know, having to fill shoes. And these are impossible, impossible shoes to fill. And we discover things about him that I could barely fathom. So I’m grateful that it’s somehow, something’s coming across the page, the screen.”

Ntare also discussed the physical demands of playing such a transformative role:

Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine: Well, I think what Dennis does, what he’s done with all of his work, and as a novelist, as a screenwriter, and now working for, on the small screen, is that he creates these incredibly complex characters going through the most extreme psychological circumstances that you feel for deeply. So what’s interesting is that it just gets deeper and deeper and more complicated as each episode unfolds. And for me, I’ve had the good fortune to be able to get all the scripts at once. So I had the whole season in front of me, and I was able to map out, oh, this is what happens in the first scene, this is what happens in the last scene. How, what’s the most interesting arc to get to that point? And I think that the transformation I went through physically was probably the most challenging thing from beginning to end. I think I dropped like 40 pounds for like the beginning of the shoot to the end of the shoot or something. Yeah, so the physical, physical part was probably one of the most challenging things.

Be sure to watch the full interview with Jurnee Smollett and Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine to get all the thrilling details about the new Apple TV+ series, “Smoke”!

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