International productions filming in Ireland include Foundation, an Apple Original drama series for Apple TV+, that chronicles the epic saga of The Foundation, a band of exiles who discover that the only way to save the Galactic Empire from destruction is to defy it.
The series is the largest production ever to film on location in Ireland, creating over 500 production jobs. Several training initiatives are underway for new entrants into the industry in the Limerick region, with over 40 skills development participants on the show. Irish talent is represented across the production, including award winning costume designer Eimer Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh, who leads a large costume department.
David S. Goyer (“The Dark Knight,” “Terminator: Dark Fate”) serves as showrunner and executive producer for the series.
Skydance Television is producing the series with David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Marcy Ross serving as executive producers. Josh Friedman (“Avatar 4,” “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”) and Robyn Asimov also serve as executive producers for the series.
Foundation stars Jared Harris (“Chernobyl”), Lee Pace (“Halt and Catch Fire”), Lou Llobell (“Voyagers”), Leah Harvey (“Fighting with My Family,” “Les Misérables”), Laura Birn (“Helene,” “The Innocents”), Terrence Mann (“Sense8”), Cassian Bilton (“A Devil’s Harmony”).
Wild Atlantic Pictures is the Irish production company for the series.
Source: Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland
MacDailyNews Take: This is the one we’re looking forward to seeing the most! It will be quite the achievement if Asimov’s sprawling saga can be condensed and adapted for an Apple TV+ series.
If Andrew McClay ain’t in it I’m not watching it,
I imagine Steve Jobs, appearing as a holographic recording in a secret room on the Space Ship, every 10 years, telling Apple’s key executives what’s happening in the coming decade 🔮 It’s happening right now… ✨😌
Always thought that was what the SJ theater was for.
Considering the first paragraph description (which I can only presume is from those doing the show… and designed to appeal to the naive eagerly awaiting “the revolution”) and what happened with “I, Robot”, I have little hope for this.
Yep. Or Ringworld from a few years ago.
I had read a few years ago that SyFY was going to do that. Did it get made?
Yeah. It was disappointing.
How would you describe Foundation in one sentence?
Don’t know that I’d try, but what they describe is way off the mark in describing the 1st book. The characters aren’t a bunch of exiles and they aren’t out to “save a Galactic Empire by defying it”.
The first book is a collection of short stories that take place over a period of several centuries, with a common background… the “Foundation”… and no continuing characters.
The eponymous “Foundation” is a secret organization created after a scientist predicts the collapse of the Galactic Empire.
Their purpose isn’t to save the Empire, but to shorten the “dark ages” between the Empire’s collapse and whatever will eventually rise to replace it.
Time spaningly complex vision that goes off the rails, but ends up where it should be.
Well have just absorbed all four series (so far) of the Expanse, also featuring Jared Harris, and if it can match the qualities and vIsion of that far ranging series then I will be very happy. It certainly hints that something of this nature can work if skilfully executed. The BBC did do an acclaimed radio version back in the 60s/70s which worked very well but the biggest obstacle for a visual dramatisation will be overcoming the viewers desire to buy into characterisation and following their progress, rather difficult when you are covering many centuries, but far easier in an ongoing series than it could ever be in a film I guess. Timing of the jumps will be crucial.
Will also be interesting to see what elements of the added books will be included and whether they ever attempt to tie it into the iRobot series as Asimov ended up doing which felt somewhat contrived in the later additional books from memory.
Would be nice if they involved Chris Foss in visualising some of the technology of this Foundation world considering him doing those stunning 60s/70s versions of the series book covers helped unite the books, bring them to life so vividly and that set him personally out upon a road to all his later work in films and SciFi art themes that is so expressive of the subject matter in wonderful detail. Would be nice to see it come full circle for him and indeed might reflect the sort of thoughtful insight on the part of the Producers that they will undoubtedly need to make a real success of the series.