The third season of Foundation, the sci-fi epic based on Isaac Asimov’s legendary book series that filmed in Prague in 2023 and 2024, premiered on Apple TV+ on July 11 with new episodes releasing each Friday through Sept. 12. The long-awaited return picks up over a century after season two, introducing new characters, locations, and a formidable villain known as The Mule.
Filmed largely in the Czech Republic, season 3 of Foundation arrives after a turbulent production cycle that included strike-related delays, internal shakeups, and uncertainty over its future. With multiple seasons shot across a number of years, the sci-fi series is one of the largest international productions ever hosted in the Czech Republic, alongside other prestige TV shows including Carnival Row and The Wheel of Time.
New setting, new stakes in season 3
Season 3 of Foundation is set 152 years after the events of its previous season. As the Cleonic Empire weakens and the Foundation strengthens, both sides face a common existential threat in the form of The Mule, a mutant warlord capable of telepathic manipulation. Pilou Asbæk (Game of Thrones), who joins the cast as The Mule, leads a group of new arrivals, including Cherry Jones, Cody Fern, and Synnøve Karlsen.
Returning cast members include Jared Harris as Hari Seldon, Lee Pace as Brother Day, Lou Llobell as Gaal Dornick, and Laura Birn as Demerzel. This season follows Hari and Gaal’s continued struggle to preserve humanity’s future while navigating a political and psychic minefield that could upend their entire plan.
Upcoming episode titles, such as A Song for the End of Everything and Shadows in the Math, hint at philosophical and metaphysical undercurrents. The series blends high-concept science fiction with dynastic drama, reminiscent of both Roman imperial history and modern geopolitical shifts—a thematic legacy of Asimov’s original trilogy.
Flashbacks aside, many characters from season two do not return. The time jump effectively resets the playing field, with Ella-Rae Smith’s Queen Sareth and Kulvinder Ghir’s Poly confirmed not to be in season three. Leah Harvey’s Salvor Hardin, a primary cast members in the first two season, is also not expected to return after the events of the previous season.
Behind the scenes: a turbulent return to Prague
Season 3 of Foundation was nearly derailed by industry disruptions. Filming began in early 2023 but was paused mid-year due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. While pre-production resumed at Prague Studios in early 2024, on-location shooting first picked up again in Poland, utilizing sites such as Warsaw’s Temple of Divine Providence.
Despite a budget dispute and reports of showrunner David S. Goyer stepping back from the production—reportedly replaced in part by fellow executive producer Bill Bost—principal photography resumed in Prague by spring. According to Prague Studios’ Jindřich Guttner, filming extended through July 2024, over a year after the original schedule was disrupted.
Foundation producers have spent an estimated CZK 3.5 billion (roughly $154 million) across seasons two and three in the Czech Republic. The show employed more than 4,000 local crew members, with many also working on the Polish leg of the shoot.
“Foundation brought together all the elements that attract foreign filmmakers to our country—unique locations, top-notch professionals, and a strong incentive system,” said Vratislav Šlajer, chairman of the Czech Audiovisual Producers’ Association.
With Apple yet to confirm a fourth season, Prague industry observers are cautiously optimistic that the series will return. The Czech Republic remains a top destination for international productions, and Foundation is viewed as a benchmark for what large-scale, long-term projects can bring to the local economy.
A potential season four for the series may depend on audience reception and streaming numbers over the following weeks. As Foundation unfolds over its 10-episode arc this summer, the stakes—for both the galaxy and the Czech film industry—remain high. The next episode, When a Book Finds You, streams on July 25.
