Foundation season 3 premieres July 11, 2025 on Apple TV+

Fans of psychohistory rejoice: Apple TV+ officially renewed Foundation for a third season on December 5, 2023¹, with showrunner David S. Goyer expressing enthusiasm for continuing Asimov’s galactic saga¹. Deadline later reported that Apple has quietly greenlit a fourth season and enlisted Ian Goldberg as executive producer and prospective future showrunner².

Release date locked in after a bumpy production

Principal photography on season 3 began in late May 2023 at the brutalist Repre Cultural Centre in Most, Czech Republic³. Production paused in mid-July 2023 due to the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes⁴, then encountered further delays before resuming in March 2024⁵. Goyer is believed to have stepped back as showrunner in February 2024⁶. Despite these setbacks, Apple TV+ confirmed the ten-episode third season will debut globally on July 11, 2025, with episodes released weekly through September 12, 2025⁷.

“Foundation” has been renewed for Season 3 at Apple TV+.

“I’m thrilled Apple has given us the opportunity to continue chronicling Asimov’s pioneering galactic saga,” says showrunner David S. Goyer. https://t.co/VTt9ZrlWe9

— Variety (@Variety) December 5, 2023

What to expect: The Mule arrives ?

Season 3 dives headfirst into the emergence of the Mule—a formidable warlord whose mastery of military strategy and emotional influence poses the greatest challenge yet to Hari Seldon’s psychohistorical projections⁸.

Did you know? The Mule first appears in Isaac Asimov’s Foundation and Empire (1952), introducing one of the saga’s most compelling antagonists.

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Returning favourites and star-studded newcomers

Lee Pace, Jared Harris and Lou Llobell will reprise their roles, joined by Laura Birn, Cassian Bilton, Terrence Mann and Rowena King, while Leah Harvey (Salvor Hardin) does not return. New series regulars include Pilou Asbæk as the Mule, Cherry Jones as Ambassador Quent, Troy Kotsur as Preem Palver, Synnøve Karlsen as Bayta Mallow, Tómas Lemarquis as Magnifico Giganticus, Cody Fern as Toran Mallow, Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing as Song and Leo Bill as Mayor Indoor⁹. This blend of seasoned talent and fresh faces promises to ignite the epic’s next chapter.

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Where to watch this exclusive event ?

As with its predecessors, Foundation season 3 will stream exclusively on Apple TV+ worldwide⁷. In territories like France—where Apple TV+ is bundled with Canal+—viewers can also tune in via that platform. Whether you’re catching up on the app or organizing a watch-party, mark your calendar for July 11, 2025—this is one sci-fi event you won’t want to miss!

‘Foundation’: Cherry Jones, Brandon P. Bell Among 8 Cast For Season 3 Of Apple Series https://t.co/tbAFtqtHY1

— Deadline (@DEADLINE) March 21, 2024

Footnotes

1. Apple TV+ Renews Global Hit Epic Sci-Fi Saga ‘Foundation’ for Season Three, Apple TV+ Newsroom, https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2023/12/apple-tv-renews-global-hit-epic-sci-fi-saga-foundation-for-season-three/

2. Foundation Renewed for Season 4; Ian Goldberg Tapped as Executive Producer, Deadline,  https://deadline.com/2025/02/foundation-season-4-showrunner-ian-goldberg-writers-room-1236301501/

3. Apple TV’s ‘Foundation’ Season 3 Kicks Off Prague Shoot, The Prague Reporter, https://www.praguereporter.com/home/2023/6/9/apple-tvs-foundation-season-3-kicks-off-prague-shoot/

4. WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strikes: One Year On, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/may/18/wga-sag-aftra-strikes-one-year-later

5. Foundation (TV series), Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_(TV_series)

6. “We’re the Last to Find Out”: Foundation Stars Don’t Know If It’ll Return for Season 4 — But They Haven’t Given Up Hope, TechRadar, https://www.techradar.com/streaming/apple-tv-plus/were-the-last-to-find-out-foundation-stars-dont-know-if-itll-return-for-season-4-but-they-havent-given-up-hope-for-the-apple-tv-shows-renewal

7. Apple’s Epic Hit Saga ‘Foundation’ to Return for Season Three on Friday, July 11, Apple TV+ Newsroom, https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2025/05/apples-epic-hit-saga-foundation-to-return-for-season-three-on-friday-july-11/

8. Foundation Season 3: Everything We Know So Far, TechRadar, https://www.techradar.com/streaming/apple-tv-plus/foundation-season-3-everything-we-know-so-far

9. Foundation Season 3 OTT Release Date on Apple TV: When to Watch Jared Harris and Lee Pace’s Hit Sci-Fi Series, India Times, https://indiatimes.com/entertainment/binge/foundation-season-3-ott-release-date-apple-tv-when-to-watch-jared-harris-and-lee-paces-hit-sci-fi-series-658713.html