Good news for sci-fi fans and (potentially) good news for the Prague film industry: Apple TV+ has renewed its acclaimed sci-fi saga Foundation for a fourth season, extending one of the largest international productions to film in Prague in recent years.
The announcement came just ahead of the season 3 finale, which debuted globally on Sept. 12, and signals Apple’s continued investment in Isaac Asimov’s celebrated universe. While production is set to begin in early 2026, the streamer has not confirmed whether the next season will return to the Czech capital, which hosted the majority of filming for the second and third seasons. Industry insiders, meanwhile, expect season 4 to return to Prague.
The renewal secures the future of one of Apple TV+’s flagship shows, which debuted in 2021 and has been praised for its expansive world-building and visual ambition. Seasons two and three of Foundation were shot in Prague and across the Czech Republic, making the series one of the largest international productions hosted in the country in recent years. Locations for season four, however, remain unannounced.
Season three finale and ongoing story
The third season of Foundation concluded Sept. 12 with an episode titled The Darkness, in which Gaal and the Second Foundation confront the warlord known as the Mule as the Emperor’s legacy suffers a catastrophic blow. This season follows the continued expansion of the Foundation and the weakening Cleonic Dynasty, setting the stage for a new intergalactic conflict.
Season three introduced new characters and cast members, including Emmy Award winner Cherry Jones, Brandon P. Bell, Synnøve Karlsen, Cody Fern, Tómas Lemarquis, Alexander Siddig, Academy Award winner Troy Kotsur, and Game of Thrones vet Pilou Asbæk. Returning cast members include Jared Harris as Hari Seldon, Lee Pace as Brother Day, Lou Llobell as Gaal Dornick, Laura Birn, Cassian Bilton, Terrence Mann and Rowena King.
Co-showrunners and executive producers Ian Goldberg and David Kob said in a statement that they were “lucky and honored to be carrying the torch forward into season four,” adding that they looked forward to continuing the “epic, emotional storytelling that defined the first three seasons.” Matt Cherniss, Apple TV+ head of programming, credited the series’ “bold storytelling and collective artistry” for its global success.
For Apple, Foundation continues to serve as a showcase of its ambitions in the science fiction genre. Since its launch in 2019, the streaming service has sought to build a portfolio of high-end originals to compete with established players. Foundation, with its complex narrative spanning centuries and galaxies, has been among its most visually ambitious undertakings.
Season three has drawn strong critical response and remains Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, a metric that Apple highlighted in its renewal announcement. By committing to a fourth season ahead of the current finale, Apple signaled confidence in the show’s continued global appeal and its ability to sustain long-form storytelling across multiple years.
Prague’s place in the production
The confirmation of a fourth season comes as welcome news for the Czech film industry, which benefited from hosting Foundation during its second and third seasons. The production brought significant investment to Prague and showcased the city’s ability to accommodate large-scale, effects-heavy international projects.
The second and third seasons of Foundation were filmed at Prague Studios and on locations throughout the Czech Republic. The project was one of the country’s most ambitious television shoots, employing thousands of local crew members and utilizing a range of studio and location settings to create the series’ futuristic worlds. Its size placed it alongside other major international series that have chosen Prague as a production base in recent years.
While Apple has not revealed whether the series will return to the Czech capital for season four, Prague remains well positioned to host another round of filming. The city offers competitive production incentives, experienced crews, and studio infrastructure that have attracted a steady stream of international projects, from big-budget films to high-end streaming series. The renewal of Foundation keeps the possibility of another Prague shoot open, but an official announcement has yet to be made.
This fall, the Czech capital is hosting a trio of high-profile period TV series, including the new series The Age of Innocence and the third season of The Empress, both for Netflix. Next month, production is expected to kick off for Zach Cregger‘s Resident Evil remake.
