Sci-fi thriller series The Institute, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, heads to MGM+ in 2025, with a first look coming out of Content London earlier today.
Starring newcomer Joe Freeman, Ben Barnes (Shadow and Bone), Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds), Simone Miller, Jason Diaz, Hannah Galway and Julian Richings, The Institute has seen King come on board as Executive Producer. The series is directed and also executive produced by Jack Bender (Lost, Mr. Mercedes), and written by Benjamin Cavell (Justified, The Stand)
In The Institute:
When 12-year-old genius Luke Ellis is kidnapped, he awakens at The Institute, a facility full of children who all got there the same way he did, and who are all possessed of unusual abilities. In a nearby town, haunted former police officer Tim Jamieson (Barnes) has come looking to start a new life, but the peace and quiet won’t last, as his story and Luke’s are destined to collide.
Reporting from Content London, Variety revealed more of the trailer that has yet to be released online:
The trailer gave a first look at the Institute itself, a cement, brutalist-style building where kids with telekinetic powers are taken after being mysteriously abducted. Luke (Freeman) is seen meeting the fellow children in the Institute as well as villain Ms. Sigsby (Parker) for the first time, who encourages him that he is doing something good for the world as he is hooked up to machines and made to move objects.
Cavell, who was in attendance at the Content London panel, revealed thatThe Institute is connected to King's classic novel The Shining, in that the children's psychic abilities are the same as Danny Torrance's, referred to as ‘The Shine':
“Kids with ‘The Shine’ are being kidnapped by some shadowy organization that we don’t fully understand […] But the kids ultimately are able to find a way to rescue themselves. There isn’t some external force that comes and saves them, the kids have to band together and through their own ingenuity and ability, find their way out.”
Also in attendance at the Content London panel was head of MGM+ Michael Wright, who revealed that The Institute will be released weekly to encourage fan discussion, and that a potential second season of The Institute is already in discussion.
The Institute joins Max's It prequel series, Welcome to Derry, The Monkey, The Running Man, and The Long Walk as upcoming King adaptations for fans to get excited about.
No news yet on when The Institute will air, but we'll bring you updates as we get them.
