Everything you need to know About Foundation Season 3

Foundation season three is blasting back into the spotlight — and the trailer proves it means business. Apple TV+ just dropped a jaw-dropping first look at the epic return of its sci-fi juggernaut, and it’s loaded with new threats, unexpected alliances, and a galaxy on the edge. 

With Emmy-nominated stars Jared Harris and Lee Pace back in action, and a cinematic scale that rivals blockbuster movies, this season looks like a bold evolution of the saga. Whether you're a die-hard Asimov fan or just love a mind-bending space thriller, this is your next obsession.

Season two ended with a seismic time jump that shattered everything we thought we knew. It tossed us 152 years into the future, setting the stage for a whole new power struggle across the stars. But instead of slowing down, season three seems ready to turbocharge the stakes with a dark new enemy and galaxy-wide chaos. If the trailer is any indication, we’re heading straight into uncharted territory.

Curious what’s next? We’ve got the full lowdown — from confirmed cast returns to fresh faces, trailer reveals, story hints, and big surprises about the show’s future. Also, with secrets still under wraps, there’s more to uncover as the stars align. We’re updating this page with every new discovery, so buckle up and check back often for the latest drops from the cosmos!

Release date & Where to Watch

The ten-episode season is set to premiere globally on Friday, July 11, 2025, with the release of the first episode on Apple TV+. New episodes will drop weekly every Friday, continuing through Sept. 12, 2025.

How to Watch Foundation Season 3 Online from Anywhere

Foundation season three is now streaming on Apple TV+ in select regions. If you're traveling or living somewhere it's not available, geo-restrictions could block your access. Fortunately, a powerful VPN can help you bypass these barriers and stream Foundation season three from anywhere with ease.

To get the smoothest streaming experience, opt for a trusted VPN that’s built for more than just speed. NordVPN offers Meshnet, a unique feature that securely links your devices via encrypted tunnels—ideal for streaming remotely or accessing files across locations.

It also comes with Obfuscated Servers, which disguise your VPN usage entirely—perfect for bypassing censorship or accessing content in countries with strict internet policies. Paired with NordVPN’s fast connections and military-grade encryption, you’re set for smooth, private, and unrestricted streaming no matter where you are.

What is the plot of Foundation Season 3?

Foundation returns for its third season with even greater stakes, deeper conflicts, and an expanding galactic saga. Set 152 years after the events of season two, the galaxy has shifted dramatically. The Foundation, once a humble band of exiles, is now a dominant force, while the Cleonic Dynasty’s Empire teeters on collapse. In a bid to maintain order, these two powers forge a fragile alliance—but a new threat looms in the form of The Mule, a telepathic warlord bent on conquering the universe through military might and mind control.

The upcoming season centers around the escalating chaos as The Mule rises. Played by Pilou Asbæk, the character is a manipulative telepathic mutant capable of all sorts of disguises and represents the one variable Hari Seldon’s psychohistory could not predict. His reign marks one of the most unpredictable and dangerous arcs in Asimov’s narrative. The show now draws heavily from the latter half of Foundation and Empire and begins weaving in key elements from Second Foundation.

As the galaxy’s balance of power continues to fracture, returning characters face personal and philosophical dilemmas. Hari Seldon’s legacy persists, despite his death in season two, with new characters like Dr. Ebling Mis diving deeper into his psychohistorical vision. 

Meanwhile, Gaal Dornick must contend with haunting prophecies, and the Cleons, led by Brother Day, scheme to salvage their lineage. Demerzel, whose mysterious backstory took center stage in season two, returns to navigate the shifting tides of power and ideology.

The official synopsis from Apple TV+ confirms the high-stakes nature of the upcoming season: “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.”

While the plot specifics remain under wraps, the time jump and narrative trajectory confirm that season three will explore a galactic power vacuum, the mysterious Second Foundation, and the escalating threat of The Mule, whose influence could unravel the very fabric of psychohistory.

Then-showrunner David S. Goyer explained to THR, the series was always envisioned as “a 1,000-year chess game between Hari Seldon and the Empire, and all the characters in between are the pawns.” Season three now moves that game into its most perilous phase yet.

Who’s Starring in Foundation Season 3?

• Lee Pace as Brother Day
• Jared Harris as Hari Seldon
• Lou Llobell as Gaal Dornick
• Alexander Siddig as Dr. Ebling Mis
• Troy Kotsur as Preem Palver
• Cherry Jones as Foundation Ambassador Quent
• Brandon P. Bell as Han Pritcher
• Synnøve Karlsen as Bayta Mallow
• Cody Fern as Toran Mallow
• Tómas Lemarquis as Magnifico Giganticus
• Pilou Asbæk as Warlord / The Mule
• Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing as Song
• Leo Bill as Mayor Indbur
• Laura Birn as Demerzel
• Cassian Bilton as Brother Dawn
• Terrence Mann as Brother Dusk
• Rowena King as Queen Sareth

Is There a Trailer for Foundation Season 3?

The story leaps 152 years into the future, where the Cleonic Empire has crumbled and uneasy alliances form — but a darker threat emerges. Warrior-warlord The Mule, a powerful telepath bent on galactic domination, takes center stage. Gaal Dornick is warned, “The Mule is your battle, Gaal.”  

The trailer highlights a psychic showdown, with Gaal and The Mule facing off in a telepathic clash against sweeping cosmic landscapes. Tensions are high as alliances strain. Through strategic chessboard metaphors, Hari Seldon implores Gaal to rise up, “It’s my job to ensure you’re prepared.”  

Expect epic scale, mind-bending action, and a fierce clash of ideologies as Foundation enters its most intense chapter yet.

The teaser opens with the Vault’s sigils igniting and a voiceover warning, “War…is upon us… and at the center of it is the Mule.” It unveils a galaxy set 152 years after season two, where the weakened Cleonic Dynasty is on the brink and the Foundation stands stronger—yet faces a looming existential threat.

We get our first looks at Pilou Asbæk’s Mule, a ruthless warlord and telepath whose plan to dominate the galaxy transcends diplomacy. His chilling presence—cold stares, whispered threats—signals his ability to mentally bend others to his will  .

Major players return: Jared Harris’s Hari Seldon, Lou Llobell’s Gaal Dornick, and Lee Pace’s Brother Day, all shown grappling with the brewing crisis. Gaal's haunting declaration, “If we fail…humanity will be lost… forever,” underscores the season’s high stakes.

Visually, the teaser delivers sweeping shots—from the Vault and Trantor’s marble spires to Terminus’s icy plains—culminating in starships ablaze, psychic battles, and the chilling tagline: “We act or we lose.” It’s clear: alliances must form, secrets surface, and the galaxy’s fate hangs in the balance.

Episode Schedule

• Season 3 Episode 1: Where Tyrants Spend Eternity (Friday, July 11, 2025)
• Season 3 Episode 2 (Friday, July 18, 2025)
• Season 3 Episode 3 (Friday, July 25, 2025)
• Season 3 Episode 4 (Friday, Aug. 1, 2025)
• Season 3 Episode 5 (Friday, Aug. 8, 2025)
• Season 3 Episode 6 (Friday, Aug. 15, 2025)
• Season 3 Episode 7 (Friday, Aug. 22, 2025)
• Season 3 Episode 8 (Friday, Aug. 29, 2025)
• Season 3 Episode 9 (Friday, Sept. 5, 2025)
• Season 3 Episode 10 (Friday, Sept. 12, 2025)

Will There be a Season 4 of Foundation?

While not officially confirmed, Foundation season four is reportedly in development — and it already has a new showrunner: Fear the Walking Dead alumnus Ian Goldberg. According to the latest updates, Goldberg has taken over after David S. Goyer exited following a turbulent production period marked by strikes and budget challenges.

Season three, which wrapped filming in 2024, will complete the adaptation of Asimov’s Foundation and Foundation and Empire, and part of Second Foundation. With several prequel and sequel novels still untouched, there’s ample material for future seasons to explore.

Goyer had originally outlined an eight-season plan (as he told Decider), although the adaptation has diverged from Asimov’s books to build a more expansive narrative. Whether Apple moves forward depends on how season three performs — if the viewership holds strong, the saga may well continue under new creative leadership.

Filming Details

Season three of Foundation began filming in April 2023 in Prague. However, production was paused on July 14, 2023, due to the Hollywood labor strikes. Although filming was scheduled to resume in February 2024, it faced another delay due to budget constraints. Production finally picked back up in March 2024, continuing across locations in Prague and Poland (Midgard Times).

Behind the Scenes

Foundation is produced for Apple TV+ by Skydance Television. David S. Goyer, who also serves as showrunner, leads a powerhouse executive production team that includes Bill Bost, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Matt Thunell, Robyn Asimov, David Kob, Christopher J. Byrne, Leigh Dana Jackson, Jane Espenson, and Roxann Dawson.

In a statement shared by Radio Times, Goyer expressed his excitement for the upcoming chapter, “I’m thrilled Apple has given us the opportunity to continue chronicling Asimov’s pioneering galactic saga. This time, the stakes for Foundation and Empire are even higher as the Mule takes center stage, along with fan-favorites Bayta, Toran, Ebling, and Magnifico Giganticus.”

Apple TV+’s head of programming, Matt Cherniss, added to the anticipation by celebrating the show’s international success, “To watch Foundation become such a global hit has been beyond exciting, with audiences around the world continuing to be captivated week after week by this dramatic and compelling journey to save humanity. We can’t wait for everyone to experience what is in store for characters old and new in Season 3.”