Apple has given Foundation a 10-episode straight-to-series order, three months after the Cupertino company landed a development deal to adapt one of science-fiction scribe Isaac Asimov's most iconic works.
Apple Goes Through With 'Foundation' TV Series
It chronicles the thousand-year saga of The Foundation, a group of exiles who discover that the only way to save the Galactic Empire from destruction is to go against it.
The series order caps year-long journey. In June 2017, Skydance Television had landed a deal with the Asimov estate to translate the writer's work in television, a medium that, according to many, is at its golden age right now.
TV would be a better fit for Asimov's type of sprawling, complex work, if only for the fact that TV allows creators more time to flesh out characters, storylines, and themes. While not impossible, film would probably not be sufficient an art form to accurately capture Isaac's subtle and sophisticated prose.
David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman will serve as executive producers and showrunners, reports Deadline. Joining them are David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Marcy Ross, alongside Robyn Asimov, the author's daughter.
Foundation By Isaac Asimov
Foundation was originally published in Astounding Magazine in 1942, telling the complex saga of humans scattered around planets throughout the galaxy, all subject to the rule of the Galactic Empire. Many have tried and failed to bring the material to screen. HBO tried developing the series several years prior, to no avail.
The project is exciting because of two primary reasons: first, this is a boon for science-fiction fans around the globe, given that there haven't really been any respectable adaptations of Asimov's work. Second, this represents just how ambitious Apple is in laying the groundwork for its alleged streaming service, due out at some point in the future to rival Netflix.
What 'Foundation' Could Do For Apple
Goyer and Friedman are both proven names when it comes to fleshing out vast, sweeping franchises, as Gizmodo notes, so it's going to be exciting seeing how they approach Asimov's beloved material. Not only does it have the potential to be the next Game of Thrones, Westworld, or Battlestar Galactica in terms of narrative complexity and ensuing fandom, but it could also propel Apple's success in the streaming space.
Are you thrilled about Apple's Foundation adaptation? As always, if you have anything to share, feel free to sound them off in the comments section below!
