Production on season 4 of Foundation has been fully underway in Prague for the past four months, and looks to culminate as we head into the summer months. Filming on the Apple TV+ sci-fi series has been centered at Prague Studios while extending across a range of locations in the Czech capital and beyond.
In addition to soundstage work in Letňany, the production has filmed in areas of the city center around the Czech National Bank and at the historic Troja Palace, reflecting the series’ continued use of Prague’s architectural diversity to depict its interstellar worlds.
Earlier this year, crews filmed at the historic underground water tanks in Brno, a network of vast brick reservoirs beneath Žlutý kopec. Dating from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the cavernous structures—originally built to supply water to the city—are known for their cathedral-like interiors. Their monumental scale and atmospheric design make them well-suited for the series’ sci-fi worlds.
Actor Lee Pace, who portrays Brother Day, recently confirmed he is actively filming for Foundation in Prague despite his character’s fate in season 3, describing the new season as one that “gets bigger” and introduces “a whole new dimension.”
The Prague shoot of season 4 on Foundation began in January and was expected to run for more than 120 days, making it one of the most extensive productions currently operating in the Czech Republic. Unlike previous installments, which split production across multiple countries, this season is being shot entirely within Czechia, signaling a deeper reliance on local infrastructure and crews.
Full Czech shoot underscores Prague’s production capacity
The decision to base the entirety of Foundation season four in Prague marks a notable shift for the series, which previously utilized a mix of European locations. Production is anchored at Prague Studios, with additional filming taking place across Prague and other Czech locations adapted to represent the show’s expansive planetary settings.
The extended schedule highlights the scale of the production. Through more than four months of filming, the series continues to rank among the most resource-intensive international projects in the region this year, which has also seen large-scale productions including Netflix’s The Age of Innocence, Martin Scorsese’s What Happens at Night, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, the fourth season of Foundation, and the John le Carré adaptation Legacy of Spies.
The presence of Foundation also reinforces Prague’s position as a key European hub for high-end television. The city’s combination of historic architecture, adaptable industrial sites, and modern soundstages has made it a frequent stand-in for both futuristic and period environments.
That scale has occasionally been visible beyond controlled studio environments. In late March, filming activity in Kladno drew public attention when pyrotechnic effects at the former Poldi industrial site triggered emergency calls from residents. Explosions and fire were part of a controlled shoot supervised by fire services; the production had not formally notified city officials in advance, though it operated on private land and continued filming for several days with reduced effects.
Creative shifts and narrative expansion in season four
Season 4 represents a transitional moment for the series creatively. Based on the works of Isaac Asimov, Foundation has evolved into a character-driven narrative exploring the collapse of a galactic empire and the effort to preserve knowledge through psychohistory.
Lee Pace’s continued involvement signals continuity for one of the show’s central storylines, despite the dramatic developments surrounding the Cleonic dynasty in season three. His expanded role as a producer also suggests a deeper level of creative input as the series moves forward.
The new season is being overseen by co-showrunners Ian Goldberg and David Kob, following a restructuring of the creative team. Series creator David S. Goyer remains attached as an executive producer, alongside Robyn Asimov and other returning collaborators.
Returning cast members include Jared Harris and Lou Llobell, whose characters anchor the narrative threads tied to the Foundation itself. The continuation is expected to follow directly from season three’s finale, with no significant time jump, maintaining narrative continuity while expanding the story’s scope.
Since its debut in 2021, Foundation has been positioned as a flagship title for Apple TV+, combining large-scale world-building with philosophical themes around power, identity, and historical determinism. While early seasons drew criticism for diverging from the source material, later installments have been more favorably received for their stronger character focus and narrative cohesion.
Season 4 appears poised to build on that trajectory. Pace’s comments about a “bigger” story align with the production’s expanded footprint and longer shooting schedule, suggesting a further escalation in both narrative and visual scale.
With filming expected to wrap early this summer, post-production will likely extend well into the following year due to the series’ heavy reliance on visual effects. A premiere in mid-2027 remains the most probable timeline based on previous release cycles.
For Prague’s film industry, the lengthy sci-fi shoot underscores the city’s ability to host complex, long-term productions at scale. As Foundation continues filming across studios, historic landmarks, and industrial sites, it highlights the Czech Republic’s growing role in global television production.
