#New Foundation Image Shows Off Lee Pace As A Godlike Clone Emperor

If the evil Galactic Empire part of “Foundation” sounds reminiscent of another space saga in a galaxy far, far away, it may be because Asimov’s novels, first published in the early 1950s, helped inspire “Star Wars.” At this point, it feels like virtually every piece of pop culture pre-1977 gets retconned as a “Star Wars” inspiration, but in the case of “Foundation,” it may actually be true. In the first trailer for the show last year, co-creator David Goyer had this to say:

“People have been trying to make ‘Foundation’ for over 50 years. ‘Foundation’ was an enormous influence for ‘Star Wars.’ It was the greatest science fiction work of all time. The story is sprawling; the scope is sprawling. It unfolds over the course of a thousand years.”

As scientists in the real world continue to deliver dire warnings about the catastrophic path this planet is on, it feels like “Foundation” couldn’t be more relevant to our current predicament as a species. Whether or not Goyer’s show manages to execute a compelling metaphor for the climate crisis remains to be seen.

Here’s the official synopsis for “Foundation” via Apple:

The fate of an entire galaxy rests on the beliefs of Dr. Hari Seldon (Jared Harris). Will his conviction save humanity or doom it? Based on the award-winning novels by Isaac Asimov, Foundation chronicles a band of exiles on their monumental journey to save humanity and rebuild civilization amid the fall of the Galactic Empire.

“Foundation” debuts on Apple TV+ on Friday, September 24, 2021.